/ pʌls; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ usually sing. ] the regular beat of blood as it is sent around the body, that can be felt in different places, especially on the inside part of the wrist; the number of times the blood beats in a minute :
a strong / weak pulse
an abnormally high pulse rate
The doctor took / felt my pulse .
Fear sent her pulse racing (= made it beat very quickly) .
2.
a strong regular beat in music
SYN rhythm :
the throbbing pulse of the drums
3.
a single short increase in the amount of light, sound or electricity produced by a machine, etc. :
pulse waves
sound pulses
4.
pulses [ pl. ] the seeds of some plants that are eaten as food, such as peas and lentils
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IDIOMS
see finger noun
■ verb [ v ]
1.
to move, beat or flow with strong regular movements or sounds
SYN throb :
A vein pulsed in his temple.
the pulsing rhythm of the music
2.
pulse (with sth) to be full of a feeling such as excitement or energy
SYN buzz :
The auditorium pulsed with excitement.
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WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 3 and verb late Middle English : from Latin pulsus beating, from pellere to drive, beat.
noun sense 4 Middle English : from Old French pols , from Latin puls porridge of meal or pulse; related to pollen .