pulsate

[ puhl-seyt ]

verb (used without object)

, pul·sat·ed, pul·sat·ing.

1. to expand and contract rhythmically, as the heart; beat; throb.

   Synonyms: pulse

2. to vibrate; quiver.

pulsate

/ ˈpʌlsətɪv; pʌlˈseɪt /

verb

1. to expand and contract with a rhythmic beat; throb
2. physics to vary in intensity, magnitude, size, etc

   the current was pulsating

3. to quiver or vibrate

Derived Forms

• pulsative, adjective
• ˈpulsatively, adverb

Other Words From

• non·pulsat·ing adjective
• un·pulsat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pulsate¹

1785–95; < Latin pulsātus, past participle of pulsāre to batter, strike, make (strings) vibrate. See pulse ¹, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pulsate¹

C18: from Latin pulsāre to push

Synonym Study

Pulsate, beat, palpitate, throb refer to the recurrent vibratory movement of the heart, the pulse, etc. To pulsate is to move in a definite rhythm, temporarily or for a longer duration: Blood pulsates in the arteries. To beat is to repeat a vibration or pulsation regularly for some time: One's heart beats many times a minute. To palpitate is to beat at a rapid rate, often producing a flutter: to palpitate with excitement. To throb is to beat with an unusual force that is often associated with pain or heightened emotion or sensation: to throb with terror.

Example Sentences

Infinity Mirrored Room consists of roughly one hundred multicolored LED lights that pulsate at various speeds and patterns.

From The Daily Beast

All day the rain had been pending; all night it had held off until the whole earth seemed to pulsate with the desire for relief.

From Project Gutenberg

If this is the case the pus may pulsate if present in large quantity.

From Project Gutenberg

Great waves seem to pulsate from the body into the wings, and with each wave goes color and strength.

From Project Gutenberg

Her heart began to pulsate proudly and in delight, for she saw that Cayamo had secured a scalp, the scalp of a Navajo!

From Project Gutenberg

In his lecture notes Harvey, in dealing with the heart, speaks of the right auricle as "the last to pulsate."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• quiver
• throb
• vibrate