im·pulse 
/ˈɪmˌpʌls/ noun
plural im·puls·es /ˈɪmˌpʌls/ noun [count] 1 : a sudden strong desire to do something
▪ He has to learn to control his impulses. ▪ a natural/creative/sudden impulse ▪ a generous impulse — often followed by to + verb ▪ He had to resist the impulse [=urge] to shout. ▪ My first/initial impulse was to say no. ◊To do something on (an) impulse or on a sudden impulse is to do it suddenly and without thinking about it first.
▪ He bought a new camera on impulse. ▪ She quit her job on a sudden impulse. An impulse buy/purchase is something that is bought on impulse and that usually is not really needed. ▪ The camera was an impulse buy. Impulse buying is the act or practice of buying things on impulse. ▪ Shopping with a credit card can lead to impulse buying. 2 technical : a small amount of energy that moves from one area to another
▪ an electrical impulse ▪ a nerve impulse [=a wave of electrical energy that is carried through the nerves to the brain]
▪ He has to learn to control his impulses. ▪ a natural/creative/sudden impulse ▪ a generous impulse — often followed by to + verb ▪ He had to resist the impulse [=urge] to shout. ▪ My first/initial impulse was to say no. ◊To do something on (an) impulse or on a sudden impulse is to do it suddenly and without thinking about it first.
▪ He bought a new camera on impulse. ▪ She quit her job on a sudden impulse. An impulse buy/purchase is something that is bought on impulse and that usually is not really needed. ▪ The camera was an impulse buy. Impulse buying is the act or practice of buying things on impulse. ▪ Shopping with a credit card can lead to impulse buying.
▪ an electrical impulse ▪ a nerve impulse [=a wave of electrical energy that is carried through the nerves to the brain]
