locomotion

American  

[loh-kuh-moh-shuhn] / ˌloʊ kəˈmoʊ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or power of moving from place to place.

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locomotion British  

/ ˌləʊkəˈməʊʃən /

noun

1. the act, fact, ability, or power of moving

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locomotion Scientific  

/ lō′kə-mō′shən /

1. The movement of an organism from one place to another, often by the action of appendages such as flagella, limbs, or wings. In some animals, such as fish, locomotion results from a wavelike series of muscle contractions.

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Etymology

Origin of locomotion

First recorded in 1640–50; see origin at locomotive, motion

Explanation

Locomotion refers to the ability to move. "The Loco-motion" is also a dance-song popularized by Grand Funk Railroad. Google it; you won't be sorry. "Come on baby, do the loco-motion!" See the word motion in locomotion? That's a clue that this word has to do with movement. An animal is capable of locomotion if it can move on its own. For example, a dog's legs and a bird's wings give them locomotion. Our legs are our tools for locomotion too. Locomotion is also an instance of traveling. If you get on a train, that’s locomotion.

Example Sentences

She suspects vaults have a role in cell locomotion, perhaps by regulating expression of other proteins that form extensions that help cells get around.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 6, 2024

In this crawl, called rectilinear locomotion, “the skeleton is basically sliding inside of the skin,” says Jayne.

From Slate • Mar. 8, 2024

Fish, however, have a greater need to optimize their locomotion than for animals moving in the air or on land.

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2024

The "treadmill" also employed two high-speed orthogonal cameras to capture unique locomotion features -- one a side view, the other from the bottom.

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2024

The voluminous tweed trousers were durable and permitted unusually free locomotion.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole