motor

1 of 3

noun

mo·​tor ˈmō-tər How to pronounce motor (audio)
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 noun
motorless 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

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
Rivian offers more available battery and electric motor combinations for the R1S. Michael Cantu, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024 The energy index rose 2.3 percent over the month before, as prices for fuel oil, motor fuel and gasoline all increased. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Moreover, repetitive rapid finger tapping is a common test of fine motor control of the upper extremities as well as a standard means of assessing the potential effects of neurodegenerative disease and traumatic brain injury. Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 The more basic toy robots for the younger kids can encourage fine motor control and hand and eye coordination. Julie Evans, Parents, 12 Mar. 2024 Cerebral palsy, which also affects posture, is the most prevalent motor disability in kids. Isabella Cueto, STAT, 8 Mar. 2024 Customers can chose from one, two or three motor variants of the SUV. Edward Ludlow, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Florida law currently requires local governments to regulate electric bicycles — which can be operated without a motor — the same way as normal bikes. Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 Of the three motor powers available – Eco, Normal and Sport - even Normal is adequate for overtaking, although Eco feels somewhat weedy. James Morris, Forbes, 2 Mar. 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 After all, each has a tri-motor powertrain that produces upward of 1000 horsepower. Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 26 Mar. 2023 What are the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's? Patti Greco, Health.com, 14 Sep. 2021 The tri-motor powertrain has a launch-control mode that GMC calls Watts to Freedom or WTF, because, well, WTH. Tony Quiroga, Car and Driver, 23 Mar. 2023 Both the pre-motor filters and HEPA filters are washable and emptying and reattaching the dust cup is easy and breezy. Heath Owens, Good Housekeeping, 13 Oct. 2022 Parkinson’s is known to be the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s, and is marked symptomatically by a progressive loss of motor- and non-motor control. Steven Aquino, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 Motor symptoms can include jerking, muscle twitching, or lip-smacking; non-motor symptoms can include changes in sensation, emotions, or thinking. Patti Greco, Health.com, 9 Nov. 2021
Verb
After motoring several miles off the coast of San Diego, Karafa used the deep-dropping setup to hook a swordfish that most people only dream about. Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 3 Jan. 2024 In the opposite scenario, when motoring gently through a busy town center or at parking-lot speeds, this torque-converter automatic exhibits none of the jerky hesitation that can occur with a dual-clutch gearbox. Joe Lorio, Car and Driver, 4 July 2023 Yet in the United States, the economy motored ahead in last year’s fourth quarter for a sixth straight quarter of growth. Stan Choe, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2024 But that’s part of the point, to revert back to a previous age of motoring with a more engaging vehicle and fewer digital distractions. Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024 Scoring on one of her signature moves, Murphy circled the MSU net with the puck, carried it back out to the blue line and motored down right wing before beating Mavericks goaltender Suzette Faucher with a wrist shot under the crossbar. Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 26 Jan. 2024 Traffickers in Tunisia have been using small, rickety boats cobbled together from metal sheets to maximize the number of people motoring toward Italy — a perilous undertaking across the Mediterranean. Gaia Pianigiani, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023 Jack hasn’t motored or paddled through all of the basin, but he’s been on plenty of it in his 73 years. Robert N. Jenkins, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 For new walkers Nuby’s wooden baby walker is more than a device to help little ones motor around. Taryn Mohrman, wsj.com, 8 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'motor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of motor was in 1586

Dictionary Entries Near motor

Cite this Entry

“Motor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motor. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

motor

1 of 3 noun
mo·​tor ˈmōt-ər How to pronounce motor (audio)
1
: a machine that produces motion or power for doing work
a gasoline motor
electric motors
2
motorless 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 How to pronounce motor (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on motor

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