impulse

Definitions

im- (in) + puls (push) = a push felt from inside. An impulse is exactly that: a sudden inner shove to act before you reason it out (buy something on impulse). The same image of a brief push gives the physics sense (an impulse changes an object's motion) and the biology sense (a nerve impulse).

Common Collocations

• 1.on impulse一时冲动
• 2.a sudden impulse突然的冲动
• 3.resist the impulse抑制冲动
• 4.an irresistible impulse无法抗拒的冲动
• 5.act on impulse凭冲动行事

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She bought the dress on impulse and regretted it later.

• 2.

  His first impulse was to run, but he forced himself to stay.

• 3.

  Nerve cells carry impulses to the brain in milliseconds.