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

chiefly British, informal + old-fashioned : 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

motor fuel/oil

a motor accident

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 of motor

Noun

• engine
• machine

Verb

• speed
• race
• drive
• travel
• fly
• hurry
• rush
• zip
• trot
• chase
• scurry
• jump
• run

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

The Aspiron Canister Vacuum is designed with a powerful brushless motor, three-stage filtration system, and large dust cup that keeps shoppers from having to constantly empty it. — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026

Optional extras include cruise control, motor slip regulation (MSR), track mode, and a quickshifter. — New Atlas, 4 July 2026

Adjective

That’s because the futuristic speed machine comes equipped with a tri-motor setup (one motor up front, two in the back) that Denza says will be able to produce a shocking 1,582 hp and 914 ft lbs of torque. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 July 2026

Other and more recent tests for Parkinson’s incorporate non-motor symptoms, such as loss of sense of smell and constipation, as correlative of the disease. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 June 2026

Verb

Yoshida began the top of the 10th as the automatic runner on second, but immediately motored to third on a first-pitch sacrifice bunt by Wong and scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Seigler. — Gabrielle Starr, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2026

Eventually, Flores and Álvarez motored to the rendezvous point, where there was no sign of the Fiorella, or of the other skiff. — Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026

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

Rhymes for motor

• boater
• coater
• floater
• rotor
• voter
• locomotor
• psychomotor
• servomotor
• vasomotor
• oculomotor
• sensorimotor
• premotor

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