motion

¹mo·tion

noun \ˈmō-shən\

Definition of MOTION

1

a : an act, process, or instance of changing place : movement

b : an active or functioning state or condition <set the divorce proceedings in motion>

2

: an impulse or inclination of the mind or will

3

a : a proposal for action; especially : a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly

b : an application made to a court or judge to obtain an order, ruling, or direction

4

obsolete

a : a puppet show

b : puppet

5

: mechanism

6

a : an act or instance of moving the body or its parts : gesture

b plural : activities, movements

7

: melodic change of pitch

— mo·tion·al \ˈmō-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\ adjective

— mo·tion·less \ˈmō-shən-ləs\ adjective

— mo·tion·less·ly adverb

— mo·tion·less·ness noun

— in motion

of an offensive football player : running parallel to the line of scrimmage before the snap

Examples of MOTION

1. She has a simple golf swing with no wasted motion.
2. the rhythmic motions of the waves
3. He caught the ball and flipped it back to me in one fluid motion.
4. The wax should be applied using a circular motion.
5. He made hand motions to get our attention.
6. She made a motion calling for the repeal of the law.
7. Her motion was voted on.
8. His lawyer filed a motion for a mistrial.
9. The judge denied a motion to delay the hearing.

Origin of MOTION

Middle English mocioun, from Anglo-French motion, from Latin motion-, motio movement, from movēre to move

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to MOTION

Synonyms

movement, move, shift, shifting, stir, stirring

Antonyms

motionlessness

Related Words

dislocation, migration, relocation; locomotion, mobility, motility, motivity; fiddling, fidgeting, squirm, squirming, twitching, wriggling, writhing; flailing, flapping, waving

Near Antonyms

immobility; inertia, inertness, stillness; cessation, discontinuance, ending, expiration, finish, halt, lapse, pause, shutdown, shutoff, stop, stoppage, surcease, termination

Rhymes with MOTION

Goshen, groschen, lotion, notion, ocean, potion

²motion

verb

mo·tionedmo·tion·ing \ˈmō-sh(ə-)niŋ\

Definition of MOTION

intransitive verb

: to signal by a movement or gesture <the pitcher motioned to the catcher>

transitive verb

: to direct by a motion <motioned me to the seat>

Examples of MOTION

1. The guard motioned us through the gate.
2. She motioned to her assistant.
3. She motioned at the empty chair beside her and told me to sit down.

First Known Use of MOTION

1747

Related to MOTION

Synonyms

beckon, flag, gesture, signal, wave

Related Words

nod; gesticulate, mime, pantomime, sign; signalize; acquaint, advise, inform, relate, tell; flourish, shrug

Mo·tion

biographical name \ˈmō-shən\

Definition of MOTION

Sir Andrew 1952–     British poet; poet laureate (1999–2009)

mo·tion

noun \ˈmō-shən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of MOTION

1

: an act, process, or instance of changing place : movement

2

a : an evacuation of the bowels b : the matter evacuated—often used in plural <blood in the motions—Lancet>

motion

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Change in position of a body relative to another body or with respect to a frame of reference or coordinate system. Motion occurs along a definite path, the nature of which determines the character of the motion. Translational motion occurs if all points in a body have similar paths relative to another body. Rotational motion occurs when any line on a body changes its orientation relative to a line on another body. Motion relative to a moving body, such as motion on a moving train, is called relative motion. Indeed, all motions are relative, but motions relative to the Earth or to any body fixed to the Earth are often assumed to be absolute, as the effects of the Earth's motion are usually negligible. See also Brownian motion; periodic motion; simple harmonic motion; simple motion; uniform circular motion.