motility
In biology, motility is the ability of organisms and fluid to move or get around. A microbiologist might test and compare the motility of various single-celled organisms.
An easy way to remember that motility means the ability to move without help is the mot- at the root of the word. It's the same root that's found in "motor," which is, of course, the engine that drives a car. If you've got good motility then your motor is working. After a car accident, an athlete's friends are understandably concerned about her motility. Motility is something you tend to take for granted — until you sprain an ankle.
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ability to move spontaneously and independentlyantonyms:immotilitylacking an ability to movetype of:mobilitythe quality of moving freely
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a change of position that does not entail a change of location“gastrointestinal motility”types:abduction(physiology) moving of a body part away from the central axis of the bodyadduction(physiology) moving of a body part toward the central axis of the bodyagitationthe act of agitating something; causing it to move around (usually vigorously)body Englisha motion of the body by a player as if to make an object already propelled go in the desired directioncircumductiona circular movement of a limb or eyedisturbancethe act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motionfetal movement, foetal movementmotion of a fetus within the uterus (usually detected by the 16th week of pregnancy)gesturemotion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feelingheadshake, headshakingthe act of turning your head left and right to signify denial or disbelief or bemusementeye movementthe movement of the eyesopeningthe act of opening somethingprostrationthe act of assuming a prostrate positionreciprocationalternating back-and-forth movementrecliningthe act of assuming or maintaining a reclining positionretractionthe act of pulling or holding or drawing a part backsittingthe act of assuming or maintaining a seated positionposing, sitting(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)snapthe act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same handsquat, squattingthe act of assuming or maintaining a crouching position with the knees bent and the buttocks near the heelssweepa movement in an arctossan abrupt movementwavea movement like that of a sudden occurrence or increase in a specified phenomenonstandingthe act of assuming or maintaining an erect upright positionstrokea single complete movementeurhythmics, eurhythmy, eurythmics, eurythmythe interpretation in harmonious bodily movements of the rhythm of musical compositions; used to teach musical understandingwindup(baseball) the series of motions made by a pitcher prior to releasing a pitchmudraritual hand movement in Hindu religious dancingboba short abrupt inclination (as of the head)nodthe act of nodding the headstoopan inclination of the top half of the body forward and downwardnystagmusinvoluntary movements of the eyeballs; its presence or absence is used to diagnose a variety of neurological and visual disorderssaccadea rapid, jerky movement of the eyes between positions of restcircumvolutionthe act of turning or winding or folding around a central axispivotthe act of turning on (or as if on) a pivotpronationrotation of the hands and forearms so that the palms face downwardspiralflying downward in a helical path with a large radiussupinationrotation of the hands and forearms so that the palms face upwardshakingthe act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movementsstirringagitating a liquid with an implementworryingthe act of moving something by repeated tugs or pushesoutreachthe act of reaching outturnout(ballet) the outward rotation of a dancer's leg from the hipbeata stroke or blowbowa stroke with a curved piece of wood with taut horsehair strands that is used in playing stringed instrumentscarnival, circusa frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainmentdisorganisation, disorganizationthe disturbance of a systematic arrangement causing disorder and confusionswimming kicka movement of the legs in swimmingtype of:changethe action of changing something
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Vocabulary lists containing motility
You won't sweat the small stuff once you master these words related to microbiology. Learn about bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms, and review parts of cells, immunology, and relationships such as symbiosis and parasitism. You'll definitely want to put this vocabulary list under the microscope!
This groundbreaking book, published in the early 1960s, investigated the devastating effects of chemical pesticides on the environment. Carson's work is credited with helping to create the Environmental Protection Agency.
You won't sweat the small stuff once you master these words related to microbiology. Learn about bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms, and review parts of cells, immunology, and relationships such as symbiosis and parasitism. You'll definitely want to put this vocabulary list under the microscope!