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.
2. The effect of an impelling force; motion produced by a sudden or
momentary force.
3. (Mech.) 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.
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.
These were my natural impulses for the undertaking.
Dryden.
Syn. -- Force; incentive; influence; motive; feeling; incitement;
instigation.
Im*pulse" (?), v. t. [See Impel.] To impel; to incite. [Obs.] Pope.