definition of
impulse

[1] #1 impulse n. [urge] an instinctive motive; "profound religious impulses". wn

[2] #2 impulse n. [caprice, whim] a sudden desire; "he bought it on an impulse". wn

[3] #3 impulse n. [nerve impulse, nervous impulse, neural impulse] the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber; "they demonstrated the transmission of impulses from the cortex to the hypothalamus". wn

[4] #4 impulse n. [pulsation, pulsing, pulse] (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients); "the pulsations seemed to be coming from a star". wn

[5] #5 impulse n. [impulsion, impetus] the act of applying force suddenly; "the impulse knocked him over". wn