motor
Americannoun
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a comparatively small and powerful engine, especially an internal-combustion engine in an automobile, motorboat, or the like.
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any self-powered vehicle.
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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.
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Also called electric motor. Electricity. a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, as an induction motor.
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motors, stocks or bonds in automobile companies.
adjective
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pertaining to or operated by a motor.
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of, for, by, or pertaining to motor vehicles.
motor freight.
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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.
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causing or producing motion.
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Physiology. conveying an impulse that results or tends to result in motion, as a nerve.
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Psychology, Physiology. Also of, relating to, or involving muscular movement.
a motor response; motor images.
verb (used without object)
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to ride or travel in an automobile; drive.
They motored up the coast.
verb (used with object)
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Chiefly British. to drive or transport by car.
He motored his son to school.
noun
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the engine, esp an internal-combustion engine, of a vehicle
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( as modifier )
a motor scooter
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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
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any device that converts another form of energy into mechanical energy to produce motion
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an indispensable part or player that moves a process or system along
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a car or other motor vehicle
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as modifier
motor spares
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adjective
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producing or causing motion
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physiol
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of or relating to nerves or neurons that carry impulses that cause muscles to contract
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of or relating to movement or to muscles that induce movement
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verb
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(intr) to travel by car
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(tr) to transport by car
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informal (intr) to move fast; make good progress
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(tr) to motivate
Other Word Forms
- multimotor noun
Etymology
Origin of motor
1580–90; < Latin mōtor mover, equivalent to mō- (variant stem of movēre to move ) + -tor -tor
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cuba's main economic motor of tourism has also been impacted.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
When these brain age measurements were compared with motor function scores, a clear pattern emerged.
From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026
Less corn could mean higher prices for the crop, which would spread to markets for meat, via animal feed, and motor fuels.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026
Driven by a love of motor racing, Michaelian eventually talked his way onto the staff of the Long Beach Grand Prix.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026
“I wouldn’t use the word nonsense” Mom calls over the electric motor of the treadmill in the den.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
