[pulse] n [ME puls, fr. OF pouls porridge, fr. L pult-, puls, prob. fr. Gk poltos] (13c): the edible seeds of various leguminous crops (as peas, beans, or lentils); also: a plant yielding pulse
[2]pulse n [ME puls, fr. MF pouls, fr. L pulsus, lit., beating, fr. pellere to drive, push, beat--more at felt] (14c) 1 a: a regular throbbing caused in the arteries by the contractions of the heart b: the palpable beat resulting from such pulse as detected in a superficial artery; also: the number of individual beats in a specified time period (as one minute) "a resting ~ of 70"
2. a: underlying sentiment or opinion or an indication of it b: vitality 3 a: rhythmical beating, vibrating, or sounding b: beat, throb
4. a: a transient variation of a quantity (as electrical current or voltage) whose value is normally constant b (1): an electromagnetic wave or modulation thereof of brief duration (2): a brief disturbance of pressure in a medium; esp: a sound wave or short train of sound waves
5: a dose of a substance esp. when applied over a short period of time "pulse-labeled DNA" [3]pulse vb pulsed ; puls.ing vi (15c): to exhibit a pulse or pulsation: throb ~ vt 1: to drive by or as if by a pulsation
2: to cause to pulsate 3 a: to produce or modulate (as electromagnetic waves) in the form of pulses "pulsed waves" b: to cause (an apparatus) to produce pulses -- puls.er n