motor.
A machine or device that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy, or imparts motion.
Meaning & usage
A machine or device that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy, or imparts motion.
The door can close by itself because there's a small motor built into it.
A motor car, or automobile, sometimes extended to other powered vehicles, such as goods vehicles.
Nice motor!
Motor insurance is expensive for youngsters.
A source of power for something; an inspiration; a driving force.
Any protein capable of converting chemical energy into mechanical work.
The controller or prime mover of the universe; God.
The fermenting mass of fruit that is the basis of pruno, or "prison wine".
Where this word comes from
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti Proto-Italic *moweō Latin moveō Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin mōtorder. Middle English motour English motor From Middle English motour (“controller, prime mover; God”), from Latin mōtor (“mover; that which moves something”), from mōtō (“to set in motion”).
Relating to the ability to move.
She has excellent motor skills.
Propelled by an internal combustion engine (as opposed to a steam engine or turbine).
Where this word comes from
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti Proto-Italic *moweō Latin moveō Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin mōtorder. Middle English motour English motor From Middle English motour (“controller, prime mover; God”), from Latin mōtor (“mover; that which moves something”), from mōtō (“to set in motion”).
To make a journey by motor vehicle; to drive.
On Saturday we motored down to Plymouth.
To rotate a jet engine or turboprop using the engine's starter, without introducing fuel into the engine.
During startup, the engine should be motored for 20 to 30 seconds to allow the shafts to straighten out, as they may have become bowed under their own weight while the airplane was sitting on the ground.
To progress at a brisk pace.
Sales were slow at first, but now things are really motoring.
To leave.
I gotta motor.
Where this word comes from
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti Proto-Italic *moweō Latin moveō Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin mōtorder. Middle English motour English motor From Middle English motour (“controller, prime mover; God”), from Latin mōtor (“mover; that which moves something”), from mōtō (“to set in motion”).
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.