motor

[ moh-ter ]

noun

1. a comparatively small and powerful engine, especially an internal-combustion engine in an automobile, motorboat, or the like.
2. any self-powered vehicle.
3. a person or thing that imparts motion, especially a contrivance, as a steam engine, that receives and modifies energy from some natural source in order to utilize it in driving machinery.
4. Also called electric motor. Electricity. a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, as an induction motor.
5. motors, stocks or bonds in automobile companies.

adjective

1. pertaining to or operated by a motor.
2. of, for, by, or pertaining to motor vehicles:

   motor freight.

3. designed or for automobiles, their drivers, or their passengers:

   The hotel has a motor lobby in its parking garage for picking up and discharging passengers.

4. causing or producing motion.
5. Physiology. conveying an impulse that results or tends to result in motion, as a nerve.
6. Psychology, Physiology. Also of, relating to, or involving muscular movement:

   a motor response; motor images.

verb (used without object)

1. to ride or travel in an automobile; drive:

   They motored up the coast.

verb (used with object)

1. Chiefly British. to drive or transport by car:

   He motored his son to school.

motor

/ ˈməʊtə /

noun

1. 1. the engine, esp an internal-combustion engine, of a vehicle
   2. ( as modifier )

      a motor scooter

2. Also calledelectric motor a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy by means of the forces exerted on a current-carrying coil placed in a magnetic field
3. any device that converts another form of energy into mechanical energy to produce motion
4. an indispensable part or player that moves a process or system along
5. 1. a car or other motor vehicle
   2. as modifier

      motor spares

adjective

1. producing or causing motion
2. physiol
   1. of or relating to nerves or neurons that carry impulses that cause muscles to contract
   2. of or relating to movement or to muscles that induce movement

verb

1. intr to travel by car
2. tr to transport by car
3. informal.
   intr to move fast; make good progress
4. tr to motivate

motor

/ mō′tər /

Noun

1. A machine that uses energy, such as electric or chemical energy (as from burning a fuel), to produce mechanical motion.
2. See also engine

Adjective

1. Involving the muscles or the nerves that are connected to them.
2. Compare sensory

Other Words From

• multi·motor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of motor¹

1580–90; < Latin mōtor mover, equivalent to mō- (variant stem of movēre to move ) + -tor -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of motor¹

C16: from Latin mōtor a mover, from movēre to move

Example Sentences

They can hear the sound of his boat's motor, growing louder as it comes over the horizon.

From The Daily Beast

The female fan base tends to hold steady at 38 percent, according to Amanda Regan, a spokeswoman for Feld Motor Sports.

From The Daily Beast

The power delivered by the rocket motor was uneven and tricky to control.

From The Daily Beast

The turbulent waters caused one of his oars to crack, which—without a motor or a sail—can be severely detrimental to his voyage.

From The Daily Beast

Rolls Royce Motor Cars is a subsidiary of BMW, who make the engines.

From The Daily Beast

To think,” said the younger Englishwoman to her sister, “of this wee mite travelling about in an open motor!

From Project Gutenberg

Under these conditions, the large motor B collapses and the pull-down P (which is connected with the organ pallet) rises.

From Project Gutenberg

A big gray sedan stood in the middle of the road, the motor idling.

From Project Gutenberg

The action of the springs now serves to close the valves V, V1, and to open out the motor M, whereupon the process is repeated.

From Project Gutenberg

As the valve V1 is open, the sound waves formed in the pipe P1 will govern the speed of vibration of the motor M.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cylinder
• generator
• transformer
• turbine