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