motive

Pluralmotives

Formsmotives, motiving, motived

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A reason or feeling that makes someone want to do something.

   Like the push that gets you moving toward a goal.

   Money was her main motive for taking the new job.

   He had no clear motive for being so kind to strangers.

   Similarmotivation

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   A reason that makes someone want to commit a crime.

   Like the reason that pushes someone to break the law.

   The police could not find a motive for the robbery.

   Jealousy was the motive behind the attack.

   Similarreason, motivation

   Note
3. 3
   adjective

   Able to cause movement or to make things move.

   Like the engine that makes a car go.

   Steam was the motive power that drove the old engines.

   Wind can be a motive force for sailing boats.

   Similarmoving, kinetic, mobile, motile, movable

   Note
4. 4
   adjective

   Having to do with movement or what causes it.

   The class studied the motive parts of the human body.

   He wrote a short paper on the motive systems of insects.

   Similarkinetic, motional

5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To make someone want to act, or to push them into doing something.

   Like a push that gets someone moving.

   Strong beliefs motive her to volunteer every weekend.

   Greed motived the entire scheme from the start.

   Similarmotivate

   Oppositediscourage, deter

   Note
6. 6
   noun

   Alternative form of motif. It means a repeated design, idea, or pattern in art or music.

   A floral motive ran along the edge of the curtain.

   The song used the same short motive again and again.

   Note
7. 7
   nounBritishcountable

   A party, or a time when people meet up to have fun together.

   The music at the motive was so loud we could hear it from the street.

   We headed to a motive after the match.

   Similarparty, bash, do

   Note
8. 8
   nounBritishcountable

   What someone is planning to do during the day or night.

   So what's the motive tonight? Are we going bowling or just staying in?

   I don't have a motive for the weekend yet.

   Similarplan

   Note

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