I. ˈpəls noun
Etymology: Middle English puls, probably from Anglo-French puuiz gruel, from Latin pult-, puls, probably from Greek poltos
Date: 13th century
: the edible seeds of various crops (as peas, beans, or lentils) of the legume family ; also : a plant yielding pulse
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English puls, from Anglo-French, from Latin pulsus, literally, beating, from pellere to drive, push, beat — more at felt
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : the regular expansion of an artery caused by the ejection of blood into the arterial system 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 pulse 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 electric 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 ; especially : a sound wave or short train of sound waves
5. : a dose of a substance especially when applied over a short period of time
pulse s of intravenous methylprednisolone
III. verb
( pulsed ; puls·ing )
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb
: to exhibit a pulse or pulsation : throb
transitive verb
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 noun