Retropulsion
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A tendency to step or walk backwards involuntarily, especially as a symptom of parkinsonism. countable, uncountable
"Retropulsion most often occurs when you are trying to reach for something higher than sholder level."
- 2 The pushing or forcing of something to move backwards or inwards. countable, uncountable
"Retropulsion of the eye slackens the rectus muscle and, if forced ductions improve with retropulsion, then the restriction is secondary to a tight rectus muscle."
- 3 Transfer of a disease from an external source to an internal organ. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"From this account, it will also be evident, that there can be no danger from the retropulsion, or rather the retiring of prickly heat, except what may arise from the cause that checked perspiration. Many absurd notions have been entertained on this subject, which have really proved prejudicial to health. It hs been very generally supposed, that the matter of prickly heat was highly injurious, and therefore, that the retiring of it into the body was extremely dangerous."
Example
More examples"Retropulsion most often occurs when you are trying to reach for something higher than sholder level."
Etymology
From retro- + pulsion.
More for "retropulsion"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.