motive power

SEE SYNONYMS FOR motive power ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any power used to impart motion; any source of mechanical energy.
Railroads. locomotives or other vehicles that supply tractive power.

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weal
well-being, prosperity, or happiness.
the intervening time.
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
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Origin of motive power

First recorded in 1615–25

Words nearby motive power

motivate, motivation, motivation research, motivational research, motive, motive power, motivic, motivity, motlanthe, motley, motmot
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to motive power

locomotion, propulsion, motivity

Example sentences from the Web for motive power

British Dictionary definitions for motive power

motive power

noun

any source of energy used to produce motion
the means of supplying power to an engine, vehicle, etc
any driving force
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012