What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
palp
Example
The doctor palpated the patient's abdomen to check for any lumps. [palpated: past tense verb]
Example
The spider uses its palps to sense its environment and locate prey. [palps: noun]
Example
I felt a palp of fear when I heard the strange noise in the dark. [palp: noun]
pulsation
Example
The nurse checked the patient's pulse to monitor their heart rate. [pulse: noun]
Example
The pulsation of the music made me want to dance. [pulsation: noun]
Example
I could feel the pulsation of the engine as the car accelerated. [pulsation: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pulsation is more commonly used than palp in everyday language. Pulsation is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while palp is less common and primarily used in a medical context.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between palp and pulsation?
Both palp and pulsation are formal words that are typically used in technical or medical contexts.
