kinetic

¹

[ ki-net-ik, kahy- ]

adjective

1. pertaining to motion.
2. caused by motion.
3. characterized by movement:

   Running and dancing are kinetic activities.

-kinetic

²

1. a combining form found on adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -kinesia or -kinesis:

   bradykinetic.

kinetic

/ kɪˈnɛtɪk; kaɪ- /

adjective

1. relating to, characterized by, or caused by motion

Derived Forms

• kiˈnetically, adverb

Other Words From

• ki·neti·cal·ly adverb
• nonki·netic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kinetic¹

1850–55; < Greek kīnētikós moving, equivalent to kīnē- (verbid stem of kīneîn to move) + -tikos -tic

Origin of kinetic²

< Greek kīnēt ( ós ) ( kineto- ) + -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of kinetic¹

C19: from Greek kinētikos, from kinein to move

Example Sentences

What looks like filthy chaos at the moment is actually the  kinetic energy that gives birth to modern metropolises.

From The Daily Beast

And she's walking, head bobbing, with an odd kinetic purpose, behind other people's camera shots.

From The Daily Beast

There was a kinetic energy, a vibrancy that leapt off the screen that did, indeed, dazzle.

From The Daily Beast

An opening that features something kinetic seems to work pretty often.

From The Daily Beast

In the early 2000s, Dutschke joined a Tupelo studio called Kinetic Kick owned by Noel McMichael.

From The Daily Beast

The laws of gases, it is known, are in accord with the two simple assumptions of the kinetic theory.

From Project Gutenberg

This represents, therefore, the pressure of such a gas, as calculated on the basis of the assumptions of the kinetic theory.

From Project Gutenberg

It is therefore natural to look for the cause of osmotic pressure in kinetic phenomena and not in attractions.

From Project Gutenberg

When a pendulum is vibrating, there is a continual transformation of potential into kinetic energy, and vice versa.

From Project Gutenberg

This energy, potential or latent in the coal, becomes kinetic and evident in the heat of the boiler and the work of the engine.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• animated
• lively
• peppy

Words That Use -kinetic

What does -kinetic mean?

The combining form -kinetic is used like a suffix meaning “of or relating to movement.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology.

The form -kinetic comes from Greek kīnēt(ós), meaning “moving,” from the verb kīneîn, “to move.” The Latin cognate of kīneîn is ciēre (stem cit-), meaning “to move, set in motion,” which is the source of words such as cite and resuscitate. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.

What are variants of -kinetic?

While there are not any variants of -kinetic, it is related to the forms -kinesis and -kinesia, as in telekinesis and hyperkinesia. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles about these two forms.

Examples of -kinetic

An example of a scientific term that uses the form -kinetic is electrokinetic, “of or relating to the motion of charged particles and its effects.”

As you may have guessed, electro- is a form meaning “electric” or “electricity.” The form -kinetic means “or of relating to movement.” Electrokinetic literally translates to “of or relating to electrical movement.”

What are some words that use the combining form -kinetic?

• cytokinetic
• dyskinetic
• optokinetic
• psychokinetic
• telekinetic

What are some other forms that -kinetic may be commonly confused with?

• -centric
• -etic
• -genetic

Break it down!

The combining form cyto- means “cell.” With this in mind, what does cytokinetic literally mean?