verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/pʌlˈseɪt/
UK, obsolete:/ˈpʌl.seɪt/
US:/ˈpʌl.seɪt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with (UK) -eɪt
1
verb
Meaning 1
To expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat, exhibit a pulse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To quiver, vibrate, or flash; as to the beat of music.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
The party pulsated with revellers.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To pulse, to be full of life, energy: to bustle, thrive, flourish.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To produce a recurring increase and decrease of some quantity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
produce or modulate (as electromagnetic waves) in the form of short bursts or pulses or cause an apparatus to produce pulses
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
pulse waves
a transmitter pulsed by an electronic tube
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pulse
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: produce, make, create
6
verb
Meaning 6
expand and contract rhythmically; beat rhythmically
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The baby's heart was pulsating again after the surgeon massaged it
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: throb, pulse
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: beat, pound, thump
7
verb
Meaning 7
move with or as if with a regular alternating motion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the city pulsated with music and excitement
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: beat, quiver
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: move
History
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.
Across languages
Translations
34 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
բաբախել
(babaxel)
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Armenian:
զարկել
(zarkel)
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Bulgarian:
пулсирам
(pulsiram)
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Bulgarian:
туптя
(tuptja)
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Chinese Cantonese:
脈動 /脉动
(mak6 dong6)
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Chinese Cantonese:
(有規律地)跳動 /(有规律地)跳动
(tiu3 dong6)
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Czech:
pulzovat
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Finnish:
sykkiä
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
German:
pulsieren
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Ancient Greek:
σφύζω
(sphúzō)
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Ancient Greek:
σκαρίζω
(skarízō)
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Irish:
frithbhuail
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Italian:
pulsare
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Polish:
pulsować
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Polish:
tętnić
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Portuguese:
pulsar
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Romanian:
pulsa
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Russian:
пульси́ровать
(pulʹsírovatʹ)
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Russian:
би́ться
(bítʹsja)
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Scottish Gaelic:
plosg
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Spanish:
latir
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Swedish:
pulsera
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Tocharian B:
särp-
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Ukrainian:
пульсува́ти
(pulʹsuváty)
— to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or to beat
Bulgarian:
вибрирам
(vibriram)
— to quiver, vibrate, thrill
Czech:
pulzovat
— to quiver, vibrate, thrill
Finnish:
väristä
— to quiver, vibrate, thrill
German:
pulsieren
— to quiver, vibrate, thrill
Russian:
вибри́ровать
(vibrírovatʹ)
— to quiver, vibrate, thrill
Russian:
дрожа́ть
(drožátʹ)
— to quiver, vibrate, thrill
Czech:
oscilovat
— to produce a recurring increase and decrease
Finnish:
sykkiä
— to produce a recurring increase and decrease
German:
pulsieren
— to produce a recurring increase and decrease
Ukrainian:
пульсува́ти
(pulʹsuváty)
— to produce a recurring increase and decrease
