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impulse

American  
[im-puhls] / ˈɪm pʌls /

noun

impulses plural

  1. the influence of a particular feeling, mental state, etc..

    to act under a generous impulse; to strike out at someone from an angry impulse.

  2. sudden, involuntary inclination prompting to action.

    to be swayed by impulse.

  3. an instance of this.

  4. a psychic drive or instinctual urge.

  5. an impelling action or force, driving onward or inducing motion.

  6. the effect of an impelling force; motion induced; impetus given.

  7. Physiology. a progressive wave of excitation over a nerve or muscle fiber, having either a stimulating or inhibitory effect.

  8. Mechanics. the product of the average force acting upon a body and the time during which it acts, equivalent to the change in the momentum of the body produced by such a force.

  9. Electricity. a single, usually sudden, flow of current in one direction.

adjective

  1. marked by or acting on impulse.

    an impulse buyer.

  2. bought or acquired on impulse.

    To reduce expenses, shun impulse items when shopping.
impulse British  
/ ˈɪmpʌls /

noun

  1. an impelling force or motion; thrust; impetus

  2. a sudden desire, whim, or inclination

    I bought it on an impulse

  3. an instinctive drive; urge

  4. tendency; current; trend

  5. physics

    1. the product of the average magnitude of a force acting on a body and the time for which it acts

    2. the change in the momentum of a body as a result of a force acting upon it for a short period of time

  6. physiol See nerve impulse

  7. electronics a less common word for