autokinesis

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noun

A visual illusion in which a stationary source of light appears to move.

Similar
autokinetic effect
OriginEnglish auto- ← Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounautokinesis (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA visual illusion in which a stationary source of light appears to move.

    Synonyms: autokinetic effect

  2. uncountableSpontaneous or voluntary movement; movement due to an internal cause.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA visual illusion in which a stationary source of light appears to move.

Similar
autokinetic effect
Also see
autokinetic effect

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew
  2. Proto-Indo-European*tó-
  3. Proto-Hellenic*autós
  4. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew
  5. Ancient Greekαὖ (aû)
  6. Ancient Greekτόν (tón)
  7. Ancient Greekαὐτός (autós)
  8. Ancient Greekαὐτο- (auto-)
  9. Englishauto-
  10. Englishautokinesis

From auto- + -kinesis.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

autokinesis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autokinesis

MLA

“autokinesis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autokinesis. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “autokinesis,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autokinesis.

Source: autokinesis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.