01 n. The act of impelling, or driving onward with sudden force; impulsion; especially, force so communicated as to produced motion suddenly, or …
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1.
The act of impelling, or driving onward with sudden force; impulsion; especially, force so communicated as to produced motion suddenly, or immediately.“All spontaneous animal motion is performed by mechanical impulse.” — S. Clarke.
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2.
The effect of an impelling force; motion produced by a sudden or momentary force.
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3.
The action of a force during a very small interval of time; the effect of such action; as, the impulse of a sudden blow upon a hard elastic body.(Mech.)
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4.
A mental force which simply and directly urges to action; hasty inclination; sudden motive; momentary or transient influence of appetite or passion; propension; incitement; as, a man of good impulses; passion often gives a violent impulse to the will; to buy something on impulse.“These were my natural impulses for the undertaking.” — Dryden.
Syn.
Force; incentive; influence; motive; feeling; incitement; instigation.