Definition of "impulse" in English

noun

1. A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels.

   • c. 1715-1716, Samuel Clarke, letter to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz All spontaneous animal motion is performed by mechanical impulse.

2. A wish or urge, particularly a sudden one prompting action.

   • The impulse to learn drove me to study night and day.
   • When I saw the new book, I couldn't resist the impulse to browse through it.

3. (physics) The integral of force over time.

   • The total impulse from the impact will depend on the kinetic energy of the projectile.

verb

1. (transitive) To impel; to incite.