Adjacent Words

Motor definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MO'TOR, n. [L. from moveo, to move.]
A mover. The metals are called motors of electricity.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: conveying information to the muscles from the CNS; "motor nerves" [syn: centrifugal, motor]
2: causing or able to cause motion; "a motive force"; "motive power"; "motor energy" [syn: motive, motor] n
1: machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
2: a nonspecific agent that imparts motion; "happiness is the aim of all men and the motor of all action" v
1: travel or be transported in a vehicle; "We drove to the university every morning"; "They motored to London for the theater" [syn: drive, motor]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Latin, from mov?re to move Date: 1586 1. one that imparts motion; specifically prime mover 2. any of various power units that develop energy or impart motion: as a. a small compact engine b. internal combustion engine; especially a gasoline engine c. a rotating machine that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy 3. motor vehicle; especially automobile • motordom noun • motorless adjective II. adjective Date: 1824 1. a. causing or imparting motion b. of, relating to, or being a motor neuron or a nerve containing motor neurons <motor fiber> c. of, relating to, concerned with, or involving muscular movement <motor areas of the brain> 2. a. equipped with or driven by a motor b. of, relating to, or involving an automobile c. designed for motor vehicles or motorists III. verb Date: 1896 intransitive verb 1. to travel by automobile ; drive 2. to move or proceed at a vigorous steady pace <motored down the field for a touchdown> transitive verb to transport by automobile

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a thing that imparts motion. 2 a machine (esp. one using electricity or internal combustion) supplying motive power for a vehicle etc. or for some other device with moving parts. 3 Brit. = motor car. 4 (attrib.) a giving, imparting, or producing motion. b driven by a motor (motor-mower). c of or for motor vehicles. d Anat. relating to muscular movement or the nerves activating it. --v.intr. & tr. Brit. go or convey in a motor vehicle. Phrases and idioms: motor area the part of the frontal lobe of the brain associated with the initiation of muscular action. motor bicycle a motor cycle or moped. motor bike colloq. = motor cycle. motor boat a motor-driven boat. motor car Brit. see CAR 1. motor cycle a two-wheeled motor-driven road vehicle without pedal propulsion. motor cyclist a rider of a motor cycle. motor mouth US sl. a person who talks incessantly and trivially. motor nerve a nerve carrying impulses from the brain or spinal cord to a muscle. motor scooter see SCOOTER. motor vehicle a road vehicle powered by an internal-combustion engine. Derivatives: motorial adj. (in sense 4a of n.). motory adj. (in sense 4a of n.). Etymology: L, = mover (as MOVE)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Motor Mo"tor, n. [L., fr. movere, motum, to move.] 1. One who, or that which, imparts motion; a source of mechanical power. 2. (Mach.) A prime mover; a machine by means of which a source of power, as steam, moving water, electricity, etc., is made available for doing mechanical work.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Motor Mo"tor, Motory Mo"to*ry, Motorial Mo*to"ri*al, a. [L. motorius that has motion. See Motor, n.] Causing or setting up motion; pertaining to organs of motion; -- applied especially in physiology to those nerves or nerve fibers which only convey impressions from a nerve center to muscles, thereby causing motion.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Diesel engine Die"sel en`gine or motor mo`tor [After Dr. Rudolf Diesel, of Munich, the inventor.] A type of internal-combustion engine in which the air drawn in by the suction stroke is so highly compressed that the heat generated ignites the fuel (usually crude oil), the fuel being automatically sprayed into the cylinder under pressure. The Diesel engine has a very high thermal efficiency.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Motor Mo"tor, n. A motor car; an automobile. [Colloq.]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(motors) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. The motor in a machine, vehicle, or boat is the part that uses electricity or fuel to produce movement, so that the machine, vehicle, or boat can work. She got in and started the motor. = engine N-COUNT 2. Motor vehicles and boats have a petrol or diesel engine. Theft of motor vehicles is up by 15.9%. ADJ: ADJ n 3. Motor is used to describe activities relating to vehicles such as cars and buses. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use automotive, automobile) ...the future of the British motor industry... He worked as a motor mechanic. ADJ: ADJ n 4. Some people refer to a car as a motor. (BRIT INFORMAL) N-COUNT 5. see also motoring, outboard motor

Moby Thesaurus

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