impulse

• Impulsion soudaine et forte, ou désir ou force qui pousse à agir, ou bref signal électrique transmis le long d'un nerf ou d'un fil.

A noun referring to a sudden strong urge, desire, or force that prompts action, or a short electrical signal transmitted along a nerve or wire.

1. Sudden urgeB2formal

   A sudden strong and unreflective desire or inclination to act.

   Impulsion soudaine

   • She felt an impulse to buy the expensive dress.
   • He resisted the impulse to shout at his colleague.
   • On a sudden impulse, she decided to quit her job.

   Synonymescapricecompulsiondesirefancyinclinationitchnotionurgevagarywhim

2. Physics: Force over timeC1formalscientific

   The product of the average force acting on a body and the time during which it acts, causing a change in momentum.

   Impulsion (physique)

   • The impulse of the collision was calculated by the engineers.
   • A large impulse is needed to change the rocket's trajectory.
   • The impulse-momentum theorem is fundamental in physics.

3. Nerve signalC1formalscientific

   A wave of electrical activity that travels along a nerve fiber, transmitting information.

   Influx nerveux

   • Nerve impulses travel at high speeds through the body.
   • The brain processes sensory impulses from the skin.
   • An electrical impulse triggers the muscle to contract.

   Synonymesaction potentialdischargenerve impulseneural impulsepulsespike