Impulse meaning

What does “impulse” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“impulse” is a noun with 6 meanings. Its most common meaning is: an instinctive motive.

impulse

an instinctive motive
“profound religious impulses”
Synonymsurge
a sudden desire
“he bought it on an impulse”
Synonymscaprice whim
the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber
“they demonstrated the transmission of impulses from the cortex to the hypothalamus”
Synonymsnerve impulse nervous impulse neural impulse
(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”
Synonymspulsation pulsing pulse
the act of applying force suddenly
“the impulse knocked him over”
Synonymsimpulsion impetus
an impelling force or strength
“the car's momentum carried it off the road”
Synonymsmomentum

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University