kinesis

K5I1N1E1S1I1S1
/kɪˈniːsɪs/

noun

The movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus.

OriginAncient Greek κίνησις (kínēsis) ← Proto-Indo-European *keyh₂- →
UncommonScrabble 11
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Meanings

nounkinesis (usually uncountable, plural kineses)

plural kineses

  1. uncountableusuallybiologyThe movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus.
  2. uncountableusuallynatural sciencesAny energy that creates/controls movement.
  3. uncountableusuallyhuman sciencesThe force driving life forward.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*keyh₂-
  2. Ancient Greekκῑνέω (kīnéō)
  3. Ancient Greekκίνησις (kínēsis)
  4. Englishkinesis

Borrowed from Ancient Greek κίνησις (kínēsis, “motion, movement”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch kinesie
  • kinesiethe movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus
French kinèse, kinésie
  • kinèsethe movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus
  • kinésiethe movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus
Irish cinéis
  • cinéisthe movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus
Italian cinesi, cinesia
  • cinesithe movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus
  • cinesiathe movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus
Polish kineza
  • kinezathe movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus
Turkish kinesis
  • kinesisthe movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with kinesis

thesiscytokinesismimesisdiuresisarthrodesisnatriuresisdiaphoresisanuresisascesisathetesisautonoesisbiokinesiscryokinesis-desisdiegesisepithesisparasympathomimesispedesispleurodesisschesissympathomimesissyndesissynizesistmesis
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

kinesis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kinesis

MLA

“kinesis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kinesis. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kinesis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kinesis.

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