WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ap•pulse
(ə puls′),USA pronunciation n.
ap•pul′sive, adj.
ap•pul′sive•ly, adv.
- energetic motion toward a point.
- the act of striking against something.
- [Astron.]the approach or occurrence of conjunction between two celestial bodies.
- Latin appulsus driven to, landed (past participle of appellere), equivalent. to ap- ap-1 + pul- (variant stem of pellere to drive, push) + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix
- 1620–30
ap•pul′sive•ly, adv.