3 N‑COUNT A pulse of electrical current, light, or sound is a temporary increase in its level. □ [+ of ] The switch works by passing a pulse of current between the tip and the surface.
4 N‑SING If you refer to the pulse of a group in society, you mean the ideas, opinions, or feelings they have at a particular time. □ [+ of ] I love the way he is so absolutely in tune with the pulse of his audience.
5 VERB If something pulses , it moves, appears, or makes a sound with a strong regular rhythm. □ [V ] His temples pulsed a little, threatening a headache. □ [V -ing] It was a slow, pulsing rhythm that seemed to sway languidly in the air.
6 N‑PLURAL Some seeds which can be cooked and eaten are called pulses , for example peas, beans, and lentils.
7 PHRASE If you have your finger on the pulse of something, you know all the latest opinions or developments concerning it. □ He claims to have his finger on the pulse of the industry. □ It's important to keep your finger on the pulse by reading all the right magazines.
8 PHRASE When someone takes your pulse or feels your pulse , they find out how quickly your heart is beating by feeling the pulse in your wrist.
pul|ver|ize /pʌ lvəra I z/ (pulverizes , pulverizing , pulverized ) in BRIT, also use pulverise 1 VERB To pulverize something means to do great damage to it or to destroy it completely. □ [V n] …the economic policies which pulverised the economy during the 1980s.
2 VERB If someone pulverizes an opponent in an election or competition, they thoroughly defeat them. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] He is set to pulverise his two opponents in the race for the presidency.
3 VERB If you pulverize something, you make it into a powder by crushing it. □ [V n] Using a pestle and mortar, pulverise the bran to a coarse powder. □ [V -ed] The fries are made from pellets of pulverised potato.
puma /pjuː mə/ (pumas ) N‑COUNT A puma is a wild animal that is a member of the cat family. Pumas have brownish-grey fur and live in mountain regions of North and South America. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use mountain lion , cougar
pum|ice /pʌ m I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Pumice is a kind of grey stone from a volcano and is very light in weight. It can be rubbed over surfaces, especially your skin, that you want to clean or make smoother.
pu m|ice stone (pumice stones )
1 N‑COUNT A pumice stone is a piece of pumice that you rub over your skin in order to clean the skin or make it smoother.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Pumice stone is the same as pumice .
pum|mel /pʌ m ə l/ (pummels , pummelling , pummelled ) in AM, use pummeling , pummeled VERB If you pummel someone or something, you hit them many times using your fists. □ [V n] He trapped Conn in a corner and pummeled him ferociously for thirty seconds.
pump ◆◇◇ /pʌ mp/ (pumps , pumping , pumped )
1 N‑COUNT A pump is a machine or device that is used to force a liquid or gas to flow in a particular direction. □ …pumps that circulate the fuel around in the engine. □ You'll need a bicycle pump to keep the tyres topped up with air.
2 VERB To pump a liquid or gas in a particular direction means to force it to flow in that direction using a pump. □ [V n with adv] It's not enough to get rid of raw sewage by pumping it out to sea. □ [V n prep] The money raised will be used to dig bore holes to pump water into the dried-up lake. □ [V n] …drill rigs that are busy pumping natural gas. □ [V ] Age diminishes the heart's ability to pump harder and faster under exertion.
3 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A petrol or gas pump is a machine with a tube attached to it that you use to fill a car with petrol. □ There are already long queues of vehicles at petrol pumps.
4 VERB [usu passive] If someone has their stomach pumped , doctors remove the contents of their stomach, for example because they have swallowed poison or drugs. □ [have n V -ed] She was released from hospital yesterday after having her stomach pumped. [Also be V -ed]
5 VERB If you pump money or other resources into something such as a project or an industry, you invest a lot of money or resources in it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n + into ] The Government needs to pump more money into community care.
6 VERB If you pump someone about something, you keep asking them questions in order to get information. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n + about/for ] He ran in every five minutes to pump me about the case. □ [V n + out of/from ] Stop trying to pump information out of me.
7 N‑COUNT Pumps are canvas shoes with flat rubber soles which people wear for sports and leisure. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use trainers 8 N‑COUNT Pumps are women's shoes that do not cover the top part of the foot and are usually made of plain leather. [AM ] in BRIT, use court shoes
9 PHRASE To prime the pump means to do something to encourage the success or growth of something, especially the economy. [mainly AM ] □ [+ of ] …the use of tax money to prime the pump of the state's economy.
▸ pump out
1 PHRASAL VERB To pump out something means to produce or supply it continually and in large amounts. □ [V P n] Japanese companies have been pumping out plenty of innovative products. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If pop music pumps out , it plays very loudly. □ [V P ] Teenage disco music pumped out at every station.
▸ pump up PHRASAL VERB If you pump up something such as a tyre, you fill it with air using a pump. □ [V P n] I tried to pump up my back tyre. [Also V n P ]