motor

B1 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

Also spelled motory

US /ˈmoʊtəɹ/ UK /ˈməʊtə/ See IPA manual

Freq #3911

Meanings

1

noun
A machine that uses electricity or fuel to produce movement and power something.

The motor in the washing machine stopped working.
2

adj
Relating to the body's ability to move and control muscles.

Babies slowly develop their motor skills as they grow.
3

noun
A car.

That's a really nice motor you've got there.
4

verb
To travel somewhere by car.

We motored down the coast for the weekend.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a machine that uses... engine

4 verb · to travel somewhere by car. drive

Word family

Forms motoredmotoringmotors

Derived forms aeromotoraffectomotoragrimotorarteriomotoraudiomotorbimotorcorticomotordepressomotordorsomotorelectromotorextramotorgearmotor

Related forms motoric

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

motor scooter
a small powered two-wheeled vehicle with a low riding platform

Noun + noun
synchronous motor
an electric motor whose rotation stays in step with the alternating-current supply

Adjective + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

What is good for General Motors is good for America

Simplified etymology

In early use, a motor was a person who imparted motion. The word derives from a Latin word meaning “mover,” based on movere, “to move.” The current sense of the noun dates from the mid-19th century.

Etymology

From Middle English motour (“controller, prime mover; God”), from Latin mōtor (“mover; that which moves something”), from mōtō (“to set in motion”).

*m(y)ewh₁- Proto-Indo-European motour Middle English mōtor Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# motor

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun, adj, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈmoʊtəɹ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈməʊtə/
**Frequency rank:** 3911

## Meanings
1. A machine that uses electricity or fuel to produce movement and power something.
2. Relating to the body's ability to move and control muscles.
3. A car.
4. To travel somewhere by car.

## Examples
- The motor in the washing machine stopped working.
- Babies slowly develop their motor skills as they grow.
- That's a really nice motor you've got there.
- We motored down the coast for the weekend.

## Synonyms
- engine

## Derived Forms
- aeromotor
- affectomotor
- agrimotor
- arteriomotor
- audiomotor
- bimotor
- corticomotor
- depressomotor
- dorsomotor
- electromotor
- extramotor
- gearmotor

## Related Forms
- motoric

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *m(y)ewh₁-
- Root: motour
- Root: mōtor

## Etymology
From Middle English motour (“controller, prime mover; God”), from Latin mōtor (“mover; that which moves something”), from mōtō (“to set in motion”).

## AI Etymology
Motor comes from Middle English motour (“controller, prime mover; God”), from Latin mōtor (“mover; that which moves something”), from mōtō (“to set in motion”). In present-day English its meanings include a machine that uses electricity or fuel to produce movement and power something, relating to the body's ability to move and control muscles, and a car. The historical chain runs through *m(y)ewh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), motour (Middle English), and mōtor (Latin). Related and derived forms include motoric, aeromotor, affectomotor, and agrimotor.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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