IMPULSE

impulse, impulsion, impetus

(noun) the act of applying force suddenly; “the impulse knocked him over”

momentum, impulse

(noun) an impelling force or strength; “the car’s momentum carried it off the road”

pulsation, pulsing, pulse, impulse

(noun) (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”

caprice, impulse, whim

(noun) a sudden desire; “he bought it on an impulse”

urge, impulse

(noun) an instinctive motive; “profound religious impulses”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

impulse (plural impulses)

A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels.

A wish or urge, particularly a sudden one prompting action.

(physics) The integral of force over time.

Verb

impulse (third-person singular simple present impulses, present participle impulsing, simple past and past participle impulsed)

(obsolete) To impel; to incite.

Source: Wiktionary

Im"pulse, n. Etym: [L. impulsus, fr. impellere. See Impel.]

1. The act of impelling, or driving onward with sudden force; impulsion; especially, force so communicated as to produced motion suddenly, or immediately. All spontaneous animal motion is performed by mechanical impulse. S. Clarke.

2. The effect of an impelling force; motion produced by a sudden or momentary force.

3. (Mech.)

Definition: The action of a force during a very small interval of time; the effect of such action; as, the impulse of a sudden blow upon a hard elastic body.

4. A mental force which simply and directly urges to action; hasty inclination; sudden motive; momentary or transient influence of appetite or passion; propension; incitement; as, a man of good impulses; passion often gives a violent impulse to the will. These were my natural impulses for the undertaking. Dryden.

Syn.

– Force; incentive; influence; motive; feeling; incitement; instigation.

Im*pulse", v. t. Etym: [See Impel.]

Definition: To impel; to incite. [Obs.] Pope.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition