hyperkinesia

[hahy-per-ki-nee-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh, -kahy-]

noun

Pathology. an abnormal amount of uncontrolled muscular action; spasm.
Psychiatry. a disorder occurring in children and adolescents, characterized by excessive activity, extreme restlessness, impulsivity, and a short attention span.

Also hy·per·ki·ne·sis

[hahy-per-ki-nee-sis, -kahy-] /ˌhaɪ pər kɪˈni sɪs, -kaɪ-/.

Origin of hyperkinesia

First recorded in 1840–50; hyper- + -kinesia

Related formshy·per·ki·net·ic

[hahy-per-ki-net-ik, -kahy-] /ˌhaɪ pər kɪˈnɛt ɪk, -kaɪ-/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hyperkinetic

Contemporary Examples of hyperkinetic

But given the hyperkinetic demands of the modern-day action movie, drastic measures are needed to weld hero and villain together.
John Travolta and the New OCD Villains
Tom Shone
June 11, 2009

British Dictionary definitions for hyperkinetic

hyperkinesia

hyperkinesis (ˌhaɪpəkɪˈniːsɪs, -kaɪ-)

noun pathol

excessive movement, as in a muscle spasm
extreme overactivity in children

Derived Formshyperkinetic (ˌhaɪpəkɪˈnɛtɪk, -kaɪ-), adjective

Word Origin for hyperkinesia

C20: from hyper- + -kinesia from Greek kinēsis movement, from kinein to move

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hyperkinetic

adj.

1880, from hyper- + kinetic. Perhaps immediately from French hyperkinetic (1874). Related: Hyperkinesis.

hyperkinetic in Medicine

hyperkinesia

[hī′pər-kə-nē′zhə, -kī-]

Pathologically increased muscular movement.
Hyperactivity, especially in children.

Related formshy′per•ki•net′ic (-nĕt′ĭk) adj.