kinesis

1 of 2

noun

ki·​ne·​sis kə-ˈnē-səs How to pronounce kinesis (audio)
kī-
plural kineses kə-ˈnē-ˌsēz How to pronounce kinesis (audio)
kī-
: a movement that lacks directional orientation and depends upon the intensity of stimulation

-kinesis

2 of 2

noun combining form

plural -kineses
1
: division
karyokinesis
2
: production of motion
telekinesis

Examples of kinesis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The kinesis of the river, a question of the color and the motion of the water flow, is always hypnotic. — Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin, from Greek kinēsis

Noun combining form

New Latin, from Greek kinēsis, from kinein to move; akin to Latin ciēre to move

First Known Use

Noun

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kinesis was in 1905

Rhymes for kinesis

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Browse Nearby Words

kinesiology
kinesis
-kinesis
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Cite this Entry

“Kinesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kinesis. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

kinesis

noun
ki·​ne·​sis kə-ˈnē-səs How to pronounce kinesis (audio) kī- How to pronounce kinesis (audio)
plural kineses -ˌsēz How to pronounce kinesis (audio)
: a movement that lacks directional orientation and depends upon the intensity of stimulation

More from Merriam-Webster on kinesis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kinesis

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