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

The duo used a custommade respirometer to measure how much oxygen the pulsating cells used in the process, a proxy for how much energy it takes an octopus to trigger color changes.

From Science Magazine

Fans remained standing throughout as an ear-splitting, pulsating roar for Tyson reverberated around the stadium, home to the Dallas Cowboys NFL team.

From BBC

But in fellow Brit Steve McQueen’s muscular, sincere “Blitz,” his latest reckoning with the heartbeat of historical incident, life under the threat of annihilation pulsates a little more strongly than that beloved phrase would suggest.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet few would deny that something dark and eerie pulsates just below the balmy surface of the city of Angels.

From Los Angeles Times

During the second half of Sunday's pulsating encounter, three other Arsenal players went down with cramp as they tried to stem the City attacks with only 10 players.

From BBC

Related Words

• quiver
• throb
• vibrate