kinetic

From Ancient Greek κινητικός (kinētikós, “puts in motion”), from κινέω (kinéō, “I move, put in motion”).

• IPA^(key): /kɪˈnɛtɪk/, /kaɪˈnɛtɪk/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛtɪk

kinetic (not comparable)

1. Relating to motion.
2. Relating to kinesis or motor function.
3. (biology) Relating to the movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus.
4. (philosophy) Relating to the force driving life forward.
5. (military, euphemistic) Relating to active warfare or the use of lethal force.^[W]
6. (slang) Frantic; busy.
   • 1997, Hollywood Confidential (film):

     Sorry it took so long; it's been kind of kinetic around here.

   • 2020, Andrew Vaillencourt, Sullivan's Gift: Hegemony: Book 3:

     Their enthusiasm and group cohesion helped when things got kinetic.

• active
• animated
• dynamic
• vigorous

• static
• lazy
• logic
• sluggish

• cinema
• kinesis
• kinesthetic