(1)冲动(sudden desire to act without thinking about the results)[C] [N+to-inf]：feel an irresistible～to buy a new TV/to jump overboard/to cry out 感到一股无法遏制的冲动(情不自禁)要买一台电视机/从船上跳到水中/大声痛哭;curb/resist/check an～遏制/抑制/抑制冲动;an unexpected/unruly～ 突如其来/难以控制的冲动;a strong～ 强烈的冲动; A sudden～of anger arose in him. 他心中突然升起一股怒火。 an～buy 因冲动所购物品;～buying 冲动购物;～buyers 冲动购物者;

(2)冲动行事的倾向(tendency to act without thinking)[U]：a man of～易冲动的人;Many people are guided by～rather than reason. 很多人靠感情冲动而不是依理智行事。

(3)推动，促进，激励(push，thrust or stimulus)[C]：give an～to education/the development of the friendly relations between the two countries 促进教育/两国友好关系的发展;Rivalry gives an～to trade. 竞争促进贸易。

(4)冲动;脉冲(short electric signal sent along a wire or nerve)[C]：nerve～s 神经冲动;an electrical～电脉冲;the～of a wave/falling water 波浪/落水的冲击力;

on impulse 凭着冲动：act on～/on the～of the moment 凭冲动/一时的冲动行事;She bought the car on～. 她一时冲动买了这辆车。

under the impulse 在……的驱使下：under the～of pity/hunger/curiosity 在同情心/饥饿/好奇心的驱使下;

→im′pulsive adj易冲动的，凭冲动行事的;im′pulsively adv冲动地，冲动行事