Chapter Pullail to Pulverous of P by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

2. Any measured or regular beat; any short, quick motion, regularly repeated, as of a medium in the transmission of light, sound, etc.; oscillation; vibration; pulsation; impulse; beat; movement.

The measured pulse of racing oars.

Tennyson.

When the ear receives any simple sound, it is struck by a single pulse of the air, which makes the eardrum and the other membranous parts vibrate according to the nature and species of the stroke.

Burke.

Pulse glass, an instrument consisting to a glass tube with terminal bulbs, and containing ether or alcohol, which the heat of the hand causes to boil; — so called from the pulsating motion of the liquid when thus warmed. — Pulse wave (Physiol.), the wave of increased pressure started by the ventricular systole, radiating from the semilunar valves over the arterial system, and gradually disappearing in the smaller branches.

the pulse wave travels over the arterial system at the rate of about 29.5 feet in a second.

H. N. Martin.

—

To feel one's pulse. (a) To ascertain, by the sense of feeling, the condition of the arterial pulse. (b) Hence, to sound one's opinion; to try to discover one's mind.

Pulse
(Pulse), v. i. To beat, as the arteries; to move in pulses or beats; to pulsate; to throb. Ray.

Pulse
(Pulse), v. t. [See Pulsate, Pulse a beating.] To drive by a pulsation; to cause to pulsate. [R.]

Pulseless
(Pulse"less), a. Having no pulsation; lifeless.

Pulselessness
(Pulse"less*ness), n. The state of being pulseless.

Pulsific
(Pul*sif"ic) a. [Pulse + L. facere to make.] Exciting the pulse; causing pulsation.

Pulsimeter
(Pul*sim"e*ter) n. [Pulse + -meter.] (Physiol.) A sphygmograph.

Pulsion
(Pul"sion) n. [L. pulsio, fr. pellere, pulsum, to drive: cf. F. pulsion.] The act of driving forward; propulsion; — opposed to suction or traction. [R.]

Pulsive
(Pul"sive) a. Tending to compel; compulsory. [R.] "The pulsive strain of conscience." Marston.

Pulsometer
(Pul*som"e*ter) n. [Pulse + -meter.]

1. A device, with valves, for raising water by steam, partly by atmospheric pressure, and partly by the direct action of the steam on the water, without the intervention of a piston; — also called vacuum pump.

2. A pulsimeter.

Pult
(Pult) v. t. To put. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Pultaceous
(Pul*ta"ceous) a. [Cf. F. pultacé. See 1st Pulse.] Macerated; softened; nearly fluid.

Pultesse
(Pul"tesse Pul"tise) n. Poultry. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pulu
(||Pu"lu) n. A vegetable substance consisting of soft, elastic, yellowish brown chaff, gathered in the Hawaiian Islands from the young fronds of free ferns of the genus Cibotium, chiefly C. Menziesii; — used for stuffing mattresses, cushions, etc., and as an absorbent.

Pulverable
(Pul"ver*a*ble) a. Capable of being reduced to fine powder. Boyle.

Pulveraceous
(Pul`ver*a"ceous) a. (Bot.) Having a finely powdered surface; pulverulent.