pulse
puhls
Pulse (noun) means the regular beat you feel in an artery, caused by the heart pumping blood. Example: “After the long run, I could feel my pulse pounding in my neck.”
noun
1
The regular beat you feel in an artery, caused by the heart pumping blood.
"After the long run, I could feel my pulse pounding in my neck."
"The nurse checked his pulse at the wrist."
"Her pulse quickened as she waited for the results."
2
A brief burst of energy, sound, or signal, often repeated in a sequence.
"A short pulse of light flashed from the lighthouse every few seconds."
"The radio picked up a faint pulse of static before the signal returned."
"The machine sends out an electrical pulse every second."
3
The edible seed of a legume plant, such as a lentil, bean, or pea.
"We soaked the dried pulses overnight before cooking them in a stew."
"Lentils are my favourite pulse because they cook so quickly."
"Pulses like chickpeas are a cheap source of protein."
verb
1
To beat or throb rhythmically, or to send something out in short bursts.
"The lamp pulsed softly as the battery began to run low."
"Her heart pulsed in her ears as she stood on the stage."
"Music pulsed through the crowded club."
How to use pulse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA heartbeat-like rhythm, a short burst of energy, or (as food) a dried bean, pea, or lentil.
Common mistake
The food sense (beans and lentils) is unrelated to the heartbeat sense — context makes it clear which is meant.
Common pairings
check someone's pulse
a pulse of light
dried pulses
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Word forms
- Plural
- pulses
- Third person singular
- pulses
- Past tense
- pulsed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After the long run, I could feel my _____ pounding in my neck.
Etymology
From Latin pulsus, "beat" or "stroke," from pellere, "to drive or strike."
Related words
Rhymes for pulse
See all rhymes for pulse →Frequently asked questions
What does “pulse” mean?
The word “pulse” means the regular beat you feel in an artery, caused by the heart pumping blood. In plain terms, a heartbeat-like rhythm, a short burst of energy, or (as food) a dried bean, pea, or lentil.
How do you pronounce “pulse”?
“Pulse” is pronounced puhls (/pʌls/ in IPA).
How do you use “pulse” in a sentence?
Here is “pulse” used in a sentence: “The nurse checked his pulse at the wrist.”
What part of speech is “pulse”?
Depending on how it is used, “pulse” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pulse” come from?
The word “pulse” comes from Latin. From Latin pulsus, "beat" or "stroke," from pellere, "to drive or strike.".
Is “pulse” a common word?
“Pulse” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “pulse” have?
“Pulse” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the regular beat you feel in an artery, caused by the heart pumping blood.
Why are lentils and beans called pulses?
In food and farming, a pulse is the edible seed of a legume plant, so lentils, chickpeas, beans, and dried peas are all pulses. This is a separate sense of the word from the heartbeat meaning, with a different origin. Crops eaten fresh, such as green beans and garden peas, are usually treated as vegetables rather than pulses.
What is the difference between pulse and heart rate?
Your pulse is the regular beat you can feel in an artery, caused by the heart pumping blood, while heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute. In a healthy person the pulse rate and heart rate are normally the same number, which is why feeling the pulse at the wrist or neck is used to measure heart rate.
What is a pulse in physics or electronics?
In technical contexts, a pulse is a brief burst of energy, sound, or signal, often repeated in a sequence — for example, electrical pulses in a circuit, radar pulses, or pulses of light in fiber-optic cables. The related verb means to send something out in short bursts.
