pulse
B1Neutral to formal in medical/technical contexts; everyday for food/legume meaning.
Definition
Meaning
A regular, rhythmical beating or throbbing, particularly the measurable beat of arteries caused by the contractions of the heart.
The underlying rhythm, energy, or vital force of something; a single, brief, and sudden increase or variation; a regular edible seed from legume plants; a brief burst of electromagnetic energy.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word bridges concrete, physiological meaning (heartbeat) and figurative, abstract meaning (vital force of a city). The 'seed' meaning is distinct but related historically via the notion of 'pottage made from pulses'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'pulse' for heartbeat and legume seeds. The 'legume' meaning is perhaps slightly more common in UK health/nutrition contexts (e.g., 'pea and lentil' category).
Connotations
Similar in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency for core meanings.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
feel/take [OBJECT]'s pulsepulse with [EXCITEMENT/LIFE]emit/send a pulsehave a pulse of [RATE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take the pulse of (to gauge opinion/mood)”
- “have one's finger on the pulse (to be aware of trends)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"Our new marketing campaign aims to take the pulse of the younger demographic."
Academic
"The study monitored the radial pulse and blood pressure of participants post-exercise."
Everyday
"I couldn't feel a pulse, so I called 999 immediately." "For a healthy diet, include more pulses like lentils and chickpeas."
Technical
"The transmitter emits a high-frequency radio pulse every millisecond."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bassline pulsed through the nightclub.
- A vein pulsed visibly at his temple.
American English
- The city streets pulsed with energy after the win.
- The light on the router pulsed steadily.
adjective
British English
- Pulse crops like beans are important for soil health.
- The patient's pulse rate was elevated.
American English
- Pulse oximetry is a standard procedure.
- They conducted a pulse survey to get quick feedback.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor checked my pulse.
- We eat pulses like beans for protein.
- His pulse was racing after the run.
- The machine sends out a signal pulse.
- She could feel the pulse of the music in her chest.
- The article tries to capture the pulse of modern politics.
- The economy's pulse is weak, according to the latest data.
- Neutron stars emit remarkably regular pulses of radiation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PULSE of light beating like a HEART. Both are rhythmic and measured: a light PULSE and a heart PULSE.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/RHYTHM IS A PULSE (e.g., the pulse of the city); ENERGY/INFORMATION IS A PULSE (e.g., data pulse).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'pulse' as 'пульсар' (pulsar, a star). 'Pulse' is 'пульс' for heartbeat and 'бобовые' for food.
- Do not confuse 'to pulse' (пульсировать) with 'to push' (толкать).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pulse' as a direct synonym for 'heart' (e.g., 'My pulse is aching' is wrong).
- Confusing 'pulse' (regular beat) with 'impulse' (sudden urge or force).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'pulse' NOT refer to a regular beat or rhythm?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its core meaning is the heartbeat, it is widely used metaphorically (pulse of a city) and technically (electrical pulse, food category).
Pulse is the tactile beat you feel in arteries; heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute. They are typically the same number.
It comes from the Latin 'puls' meaning 'thick pap or porridge', made from these seeds. The term now refers to the dried seeds of legume plants.
Yes. It means to beat or throb rhythmically (e.g., 'The music pulsed through the hall') or to emit energy in brief bursts.
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