Movement or motion that is self-caused or self-generated, without external force.
From Greek 'autos' (self) and 'kinesis' (motion/movement). This scientific term literally means 'self-motion' and is used in biology and physics to describe spontaneous movement.
Bacteria exhibit autocinesis when they move toward food without anyone pushing them—the movement comes from inside the organism itself. It's different from passive movement (being pushed by water currents), and the distinction matters in understanding whether something is alive and autonomous.
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