appulse

/əˈpʌls/
noun
  1. A striking or touching of one thing against another; a collision or impact.
    • In physics class, we studied the appulse of particles in a vacuum.
    • The appulse of the hammer against the anvil rang through the workshop.
    • The appulse of the two cars was loud enough to wake the neighbors.
  2. The approach or close passage of one celestial body to another, as seen from Earth.
    • Astronomers tracked the appulse of the asteroid near Mars.
    • The appulse of Venus and Jupiter was visible just after sunset.
    • During the appulse, the moon appeared to pass very close to Saturn.
What does "appulse" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean