a comparatively small and powerful engine, especially an internal-combustion engine in an automobile, motorboat, or the like.
any self-powered vehicle.
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.
Also called electric motor. Electricity. a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, as an induction motor.
motors,stocks or bonds in automobile companies.
adjective
pertaining to or operated by a motor.
of, for, by, or pertaining to motor vehicles: motor freight.
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.
causing or producing motion.
Physiology. conveying an impulse that results or tends to result in motion, as a nerve.
Psychology, Physiology. Also motoric. of, relating to, or involving muscular movement: a motor response; motor images.
verb (used without object)
to ride or travel in an automobile; drive: They motored up the coast.
verb (used with object)
Chiefly British. to drive or transport by car: He motored his son to school.
Origin of motor
1580–90; < Latinmōtor mover, equivalent to mō- (variant stem of movēre to move) + -tor-tor
the engine, esp an internal-combustion engine, of a vehicle
(as modifier)a motor scooter
Also called: electric motora machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy by means of the forces exerted on a current-carrying coil placed in a magnetic field
any device that converts another form of energy into mechanical energy to produce motion
an indispensable part or player that moves a process or system along
mainlyBritisha car or other motor vehicle
as modifiermotor spares
adjective
producing or causing motion
physiol
of or relating to nerves or neurons that carry impulses that cause muscles to contract
of or relating to movement or to muscles that induce movement
verb
(intr)to travel by car
(tr)Britishto transport by car
(intr)informalto move fast; make good progress
(tr)to motivate
Word Origin for motor
C16: from Latin mōtor a mover, from movēre to move
mid-15c., "controller, prime mover," from Latin motor, literally "mover," agent noun from past participle stem of movere "to move" (see move (v.)). From 15c. as "controller, prime mover" (in reference to God); sense of "agent or force that produces mechanical motion" is first recorded 1660s; that of "machine that supplies motive power" is from 1856. First record of slang motor-mouth "fast-talking person" is from 1970.
motor
v.
1896, from motor (n.). Related: Motored; motoring.
