motorize

[ moh-tuh-rahyz ]

/ ˈmoʊ təˌraɪz /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR motorize ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), mo·tor·ized, mo·tor·iz·ing.

to furnish with a motor, as a vehicle.

to supply with motor-driven vehicles, usually in the place of horses and horse-drawn vehicles.

RELATED WORDS

industrialize, equip, rig

Nearby words

Also especially British, mo·tor·ise.

Origin of motorize

First recorded in 1910–15; motor + -ize

Related formsmo·tor·i·za·tion, nounnon·mo·tor·ized, adjectiveun·mo·tor·ized, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for motorize

motorize

motorise

/ (ˈməʊtəˌraɪz) /

verb (tr)

to equip with a motor

to provide (military units) with motor vehicles

Derived Formsmotorization or motorisation, noun

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

Word Origin and History for motorize

motorize

"to furnish with a motor or motors," 1901, from motor (n.) + -ize. Related: Motorized; motorizing; motorization.