|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
impulse
im·pulse / ˈimˌpəls/ • n. 1. a sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act: I had an almost irresistible impulse to giggle | [as adj.] impulse buying. ∎ the tendency to act in this way: he was a man of impulse, not premeditation. 2. a driving or motivating force; an impetus: an added impulse to this process of renewal. 3. a pulse of electrical energy; a brief current: nerve impulses | a spiral is used to convert radio waves into electrical impulses. 4. Physics a force acting briefly on a body and producing a finite change of momentum. ∎ a change of momentum so produced, equivalent to the average value of the force multiplied by the time during which it acts. PHRASES: on impulse (or on an impulse) suddenly and without forethought; impulsively. |
|
|
Cite this article
"impulse." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "impulse." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-impulse.html "impulse." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-impulse.html |
|
impulse
impulse (nerve impulse) The signal that travels along the length of a nerve fibre and is the means by which information is transmitted through the nervous system. It is marked by the flow of ions across the membrane of the axon caused by changes in the permeability of the membrane, producing a reduction in potential difference that can be detected as the action potential. The strength of the impulse produced in any nerve fibre is constant (see all-or-none response).
|
|
|
Cite this article
"impulse." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "impulse." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-impulse.html "impulse." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-impulse.html |
|
impulse
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "impulse." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "impulse." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-impulse.html T. F. HOAD. "impulse." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-impulse.html |
|
impulse
impulse (im-puls) n. (in neurology) see nerve impulse.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"impulse." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "impulse." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-impulse.html "impulse." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-impulse.html |
|
impulse
impulse in mechanics: see momentum . |
|
|
Cite this article
"impulse." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "impulse." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-impulse.html "impulse." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-impulse.html |
|
impulse
impulse •Hals • rinkhals • valse • else • grilse
•false, waltz
•convulse, dulse, pulse
•impulse
|
|
|
Cite this article
"impulse." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "impulse." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-impulse.html "impulse." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-impulse.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
