motor

1 of 3

noun

mo·​tor ˈmō-tər 

1

: one that imparts motion

specifically : prime mover

2

: any of various power units that develop energy or impart motion: such 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

ˈmō-tər-dəm 

noun

motorless

ˈmō-tər-ləs 

adjective

motor

2 of 3

adjective

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

motor

3 of 3

verb

motored; motoring; motors

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

Synonyms

Noun

• engine
• machine

Verb

• barrel
• belt
• blast
• blaze
• blow
• bolt
• bomb [slang]
• bowl
• breeze
• bundle
• bustle
• buzz
• cannonball
• careen
• career
• chase
• course
• crack (on)
• dash
• drive
• fly
• hare
• hasten
• hie
• highball
• hotfoot (it)
• hump
• hurl
• hurry
• hurtle
• hustle
• jet
• jump
• nip
• pelt
• race
• ram
• rip
• rocket
• run
• rush
• rustle
• scoot
• scurry
• scuttle
• shoot
• speed
• step
• tear
• travel
• trot
• whirl
• whisk
• zip
• zoom

Examples of motor in a Sentence

Noun

the device was equipped with a small electrical motor to make the gears spin

went shopping for a new automobile at Valley Motors

Adjective

motor areas of the brain

Verb

We spent the afternoon motoring through the countryside.

The car motored slowly up the hill.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But with weaker garbage disposal motors, hard pieces of food can become trapped and block the drain. —Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024

Intriguingly, the therapy targets a region of the brain that normally isn’t associated with motor skills. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 8 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Pre-Motor Stage Parkinson's disease may begin decades before a person notices a single motor symptom. —Patti Greco, Health, 14 Apr. 2023

Under braking, the e-axle and rear e-motor contribute to the stopping process, allowing the friction brakes to recharge the battery more effectively. —WIRED, 29 Mar. 2023

Verb

The excavator motored toward a growing pile—the wall-to-be, which followed a plan laid out in software—and an algorithm predicted how the new stone would settle onto the others. —James Somers, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024

Vonk’s lawsuit accused the Neptune Society of Northern California of negligence, for the Naiad allegedly motoring at an unsafe speed and failing to keep clear of the breakwater, while no proper lookout was maintained. —Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin, from movēre to move

First Known Use

Noun

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1895, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing motor

• induction motor
• linear motor
• motor bus
• motor car
• motor court
• motor home
• motor inn
• motor lodge
• motor neuron
• motor pool
• motor sailer
• motor scooter
• motor ship
• motor torpedo boat
• motor unit
• motor vehicle
• outboard motor
• stepper motor
• synchronous motor
• universal motor

Kids Definition

motor

1 of 3 noun

mo·​tor ˈmōt-ər 

1

: a machine that produces motion or power for doing work

a gasoline motor

electric motors

2

: motor vehicle

especially : automobile entry 2

motorless

-ləs 

adjective

motor

2 of 3 adjective

1

: causing or giving motion

motor power

2

a

: of, relating to, or being a nerve, neuron, or nerve fiber that carries a nerve impulse to a muscle causing movement

motor nerves

b

: concerned with or involving muscular movement

motor areas of the brain

a motor reaction

3

a

: equipped with or driven by a motor

b

: of, relating to, or designed for use in an automobile

a motor accident

a motor mechanic

motor

3 of 3 verb

: to travel or transport by automobile : drive

Medical Definition

motor

adjective

mo·​tor ˈmōt-ər 

1

: causing or imparting motion

2

: of, relating to, or being a motor neuron or a nerve containing motor neurons

motor fibers

motor cells

3

: of, relating to, concerned with, or involving muscular movement

motor areas of the brain