Dictionary

pulsate en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /pʌlˈseɪt/ (UK)
• /ˈpʌl.seɪt/ (UK, obsolete)
• (Australia) audio
• (US) audio
• /ˈpʌl.seɪt/ (US)

Etymology

Perhaps formed within English as a back-formation from pulsation (attested from the early 15th century, in Middle English). A figurative derivation from New Latin pulsō, pulsātum (“(of an organ) to pulse, to emit a pulse”, intransitive) is also possible, itself a back-formation of New Latin pulsātiō (“pulsation”, 14th century), or derived from classical Latin pulsō (“to strike repeatedly”, transitive) with semantic influence from classical pulsus (“a pulse”). Ultimately from Latin pellō (“to strike”). By surface analysis, pulse + -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of push.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat, exhibit a pulse.
2. (intransitive) To quiver, vibrate, or flash; as to the beat of music.
   • The party pulsated with revellers.
3. (figuratively, intransitive) To pulse, to be full of life, energy: to bustle, thrive, flourish.
4. (transitive) To produce a recurring increase and decrease of some quantity.

Forms

Deriveds

pulsatance · pulsating · self-pulsate

Relateds

pulsatile · pulsator · pulsar · pulsation · pulsatory

Translations (34)

cs pulzovat (to quiver, vibrate, thrill) · fi väristä (to quiver, vibrate, thrill) · es latir (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · ga frithbhuail (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · ru би́ться (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · gd plosg (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · sv pulsera (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · pl tętnić (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · yue （有規律地）跳動 /（有规律地）跳动 (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · cs oscilovat (to produce a recurring increase and decrease) · it pulsare (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · pt pulsar (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · ru пульси́ровать (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · uk пульсува́ти (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · txb särp- (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · fi sykkiä (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · grc σφύζω (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · yue 脈動 /脉动 (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · ro pulsa (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · ru вибри́ровать (to quiver, vibrate, thrill) · uk пульсува́ти (to produce a recurring increase and decrease) · cs pulzovat (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · bg туптя (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · bg вибрирам (to quiver, vibrate, thrill) · bg пулсирам (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · de pulsieren (to produce a recurring increase and decrease) · fi sykkiä (to produce a recurring increase and decrease) · de pulsieren (to quiver, vibrate, thrill) · ru дрожа́ть (to quiver, vibrate, thrill) · hy զարկել (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · de pulsieren (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · hy բաբախել (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · grc σκαρίζω (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat) · pl pulsować (to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat)