autokinetic

English

Etymology

auto- +‎ kinetic

Adjective

autokinetic (not comparable)

  1. Moving by itself or automatically.
  2. (historical) Of a fire-alarm telegraphy system, arranged so that when one alarm is being transmitted, no other alarm, sent in from another point, will be transmitted until after the first alarm has been disposed of.

Usage notes
  • (moving by itself): Used mostly to describe the illusion that a fixed object appears to move when stared at.
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