pulse 1
(pŭls)n.
1. The rhythmical throbbing of arteries produced by the regular contractions of the heart, especially as palpated at the wrist or in the neck.
2.
a. A regular or rhythmical beating.
b. A single beat or throb.
3. Physics
a. A brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity: a pulse of current; a pulse of radiation.
b. Any of a series of intermittent occurrences characterized by a brief sudden change in a quantity.
4. The perceptible emotions or sentiments of a group of people: "a man who had ... his finger on the pulse of America" (Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr.).
v. pulsed, puls·ing, puls·es
v.intr.
1. To pulsate; beat: "The nation pulsed with music and proclamation, with rages and moral pretensions" (Lance Morrow).
2. Physics To undergo a series of intermittent occurrences characterized by brief, sudden changes in a quantity.
v.tr.
Idiom: To chop in short bursts, as in a food processor: The cook pulsed the leeks and added some coriander.
take the pulse of
To judge the mood or views of (a political electorate, for example): The politician was able to take the pulse of the grass-roots voters.
[Middle English pous, puls, from Old French pous, pulz, from Latin pulsus, from past participle of pellere, to beat; see pel- in Indo-European roots.]
pulse 2
(pŭls)n.
1. The edible seeds of certain pod-bearing plants, such as lentils and chickpeas.
2. A plant yielding these seeds.
[Middle English pols, puls, from Latin puls, pottage of meal and pulse, probably ultimately from Greek poltos.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
pulsing
In naval mine warfare, a method of operating magnetic and acoustic sweeps in which the sweep is energized by current which varies or is intermittent in accordance with a predetermined schedule.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  pulsing - (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients); "the pulsations seemed to be coming from a star"electronics - the branch of physics that deals with the emission and effects of electrons and with the use of electronic devices undulation, wave - (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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