pulsate
/pʌl'seit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (intransitive):
- To expand and contract rhythmically; to beat or throb with a regular rhythm: This is the primary meaning, describing a rhythmic physical movement, most commonly of the heart, blood vessels, or other organs.
- To vibrate or quiver; to move with or as if with a regular alternating motion: This extends the meaning to describe a rhythmic vibration or oscillation, often conveying energy or excitement.
Verb (transitive):
- To produce or modulate (something, like electromagnetic waves) in the form of short bursts or pulses; to cause an apparatus to produce pulses: This is a technical meaning, used in physics, electronics, and engineering.
Usage Examples
Verb (intransitive - rhythmic beat):
- The patient's neck artery pulsated visibly with each heartbeat.
- The jellyfish pulsated gently as it swam through the water.
Verb (intransitive - vibrate with energy):
- The nightclub pulsated with loud music and flashing lights.
- A sense of anticipation pulsated through the crowd before the concert.
Verb (transitive - produce pulses):
- The laser pulsates a beam of light at a very high frequency.
- The circuit is designed to pulsate the electrical signal.
Advanced Usage
- "to pulsate with (something)": To be filled with and visibly or audibly express a powerful quality like energy, life, or excitement.
- The city streets pulsated with life well after midnight.
- His speech pulsated with raw emotion.
Variants and Related Words
- Pulsation (noun): A single beat or throb; the action of pulsating.
- The doctor checked the pulsation in his wrist.
- Pulse (noun/verb): A closely related word. As a noun, it is the regular rhythm of blood flow; as a verb, it can be synonymous with 'pulsate'.
- The machine pulsed with a steady green light.
- Pulsatile (adjective): Characterized by pulsation.
- The device measures pulsatile blood flow.
Synonyms
- Beat: To strike repeatedly; to throb.
- Throb: To beat or sound with a strong, regular rhythm, often associated with pain or excitement.
- Vibrate: To move rapidly back and forth.
- Oscillate: To move or swing back and forth in a regular rhythm.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: 'Pulsate' itself is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The related noun 'pulse' is used instead.) - Pulse through: (of a feeling, energy, etc.) to spread quickly and powerfully through a person or place. - A wave of excitement pulsed through the audience.
Related Idioms
(Note: There are no common idioms using the exact word 'pulsate'. Idioms typically use the noun 'pulse'.) - To have one's finger on the pulse: To be aware of the latest trends or feelings. - A good manager has her finger on the pulse of her team's morale.
Verb
- produce or modulate (as electromagnetic waves) in the form of short bursts or pulses or cause an apparatus to produce pulses
- pulse waves
- a transmitter pulsed by an electronic tube
- move with or as if with a regular alternating motion
- the city pulsated with music and excitement
- expand and contract rhythmically; beat rhythmically
- The baby's heart was pulsating again after the surgeon massaged it