motor

American  

[moh-ter] / ˈmoʊ tər /

noun

• motors
  plural

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.

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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)

• motors,
  present (3rd person singular)
• motored,
  past participle,  past
• motoring
  present participle

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

   They motored up the coast.

verb (used with object)

• motors,
  present (3rd person singular)
• motored,
  past participle,  past
• motoring
  present participle

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

   He motored his son to school.

motor British  

/ ˈməʊtə /

noun

1. 1. the engine, esp an internal-combustion engine, of a vehicle

   2. ( as modifier )

      a motor scooter

2. Also called: electric 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

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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 Scientific  

/ mō′tər /

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

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

2. Compare sensory

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• multimotor
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• motors
  plural

Participles

• motoring
  present
• motored
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• motor
  simple
• motors
  simple
• have motored
  perfect
• has motored
  perfect
• am motoring
  progressive
• are motoring
  progressive
• is motoring
  progressive
• have been motoring
  perfect progressive
• has been motoring
  perfect progressive

Past

• motored
  simple
• had motored
  perfect
• was motoring
  progressive
• were motoring
  progressive
• had been motoring
  perfect progressive

Future

• will motor
  simple
• will have motored
  perfect
• will be motoring
  progressive
• will have been motoring
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of motor

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

Explanation

A motor runs your car, whizzes the blender and gets your golf cart going: it's simply a machine that converts energy into motion. Coming to us from a Latin word that means "to move," motor is certainly connected to the world of motion. Without the innovation of Ford motors, most of America wouldn't be able to get anywhere today. These days the motor is undergoing some serious revisions, as engineers look for a way to power things with less gasoline and more sunshine.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

motor motors motored motoring

Each step is often assumed to correspond to a distinct brain function, moving from sensory processing to cognition and then to motor activity.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

Core sales, which exclude fuel as well as motor vehicles and parts, were up a third month running.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

By the time Kimi was 11, his name was buzzing around motor racing circles.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

Elsewhere on the property, there is a six-car garage and a motor court that can accommodate 21 vehicles.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

Twice Ralph called Ti Fifi on his cell phone to report that the ambulance had broken down—the engine tended to overheat when there wasn’t enough motor oil.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

It works on industrial steam turbines, compressors, electrolyzers for hydrogen production, generators and motors across the oil and gas, chemicals, paper, cement and maritime sectors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

They have throttles and much more powerful motors and may only be ridden legally on private land with the owner's permission.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Global drone makers are particularly dependent on China for brushless motors, antennas, cameras and batteries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

Recreational outboard motors back then maxed out at 300 hp, and most were much smaller.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

The boys made their way to the back, where the smaller motors for sleek water taxis were being sold and repaired.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

The U.S. economy has motored along, powered by the artificial-intelligence build-out and a stock-market rally lifting spending among higher-income households.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

As the boat motored across the sea, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila said other nations should come to Cuba's aid.

From Barron's ● Mar. 24, 2026

As the Zodiac motored into the harbor, Dillais carried fishing gear for cover.

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2025

Arráez, meanwhile, motored up the line and through the base, then slammed into Dubón.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2025

We motored out to sea in wind jackets and bathing suits.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

As you’re motoring away on your time off this summer, perhaps even driving over that very “Grapevine” on the I-5, here’s some backstory drama for you to take along in the passenger seat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026

But a rival motoring group, the upstart American Automobile Association, feared that a race on open roads would tarnish the industry’s already-poor record on safety, and lobbied against it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

California drivers who are caught motoring at speeds of more than 100 mph will now face disciplinary actions imposed by the Department of Motor Vehicles — including potentially losing their driving privileges.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026

The driver of the other vehicle has been arrested on suspicion of a number of motoring offences.

From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026

On top of that, the Blue Ridge Mountains were sensationally beautiful and conveniently sited for the benefit of a new class of motoring tourist.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

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• generator
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