Library / English Dictionary

MOTOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("motor" is a kind of...):

machine (any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "motor"):

electric motor (a motor that converts electricity to mechanical work)

engine (motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work)

stepper; stepping motor (a motor (especially an electric motor) that moves or rotates in small discrete steps)

Derivation:

motor (travel or be transported in a vehicle)

motor (causing or able to cause motion)

motorize (equip with armed and armored motor vehicles)

motorize (equip with a motor)

motorize (equip with a motor vehicle)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A nonspecific agent that imparts motion

Example:

happiness is the aim of all men and the motor of all action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("motor" is a kind of...):

agent (an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect)

Derivation:

motor (causing or able to cause motion)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Causing or able to cause motion

Example:

motor energy

Synonyms:

motive; motor

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

causative (producing an effect)

Derivation:

motor (machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion)

motor (a nonspecific agent that imparts motion)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Conveying information to the muscles from the CNS

Example:

motor nerves

Synonyms:

centrifugal; motor

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

efferent; motorial (of nerves and nerve impulses; conveying information away from the CNS)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Travel or be transported in a vehicle

Example:

They motored to London for the theater

Synonyms:

drive; motor

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "motor" is one way to...):

carry; transport (move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body)

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

"Motor" entails doing...:

ride (be carried or travel on or in a vehicle)

Verb group:

drive; take (proceed along in a vehicle)

Domain category:

driving (the act of controlling and steering the movement of a vehicle or animal)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

They motor up the hill

Derivation:

motor (machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion)

motoring (the act of driving an automobile)

motorist (someone who drives (or travels in) an automobile)

Credits

 Context examples: 

These proteins include specialized motor proteins (dynein and kinesin) and smaller tubulin-crosslinking proteins (tau proteins).

(Microtubule Associated Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

Whereas responses in another brain area called the ventral striatum have been linked to reward processes, the dorsal striatum has been implicated in planning, motor (movement) processing, and habit learning.

(Study in Teens Shows Brain Responses to Rewards Linked to Pain Sensitivity, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

It binds RNA in a sequence-specific manner to regulate neuron-specific splicing of inhibitory receptor pre-mRNAs in postnatal motor neurons.

(Neuro-Oncological Ventral Antigen 1, NCI Thesaurus)

Every year thousands of people in the U.S. die from motor vehicle crashes.

(Motor Vehicle Safety, NIH)

Signs and symptoms include motor disturbances and cognitive decline.

(Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, NCI Thesaurus)

A range of values used to quantify newborn motor development.

(Newborn Motor Scale, NCI Thesaurus)

The whole motor area seems affected.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Von Bork walked slowly back to the study when the last gleams of the motor lamps had faded into the distance.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This signal causes the motor neurons to fire, resulting in contraction of the muscle.

(Muscle Spindle, NCI Thesaurus)

Individuals with a higher NM-MRI signal had greater dopamine release capacity in the striatum (a core component of reward, motor, and cognitive systems).

(Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI identified as a potential biomarker for psychosis, National Institutes of Health)