# motor

Pronunciation: US say "MOH-tur" /ˈmoʊtəɹ/; UK say "MOH-tuh" /ˈməʊtə/

## Noun

1. A machine or device that converts another form of energy into mechanical motion, or that produces movement.
   - Simple: A machine or device that turns energy into movement.
   - _Engineers replaced the elevator's motor after it failed inspection._
   - _The drill's small electric motor spins the bit fast enough to cut through brick._
4. A car or automobile, sometimes extended to other powered vehicles such as trucks. *(colloquial, British)*
   - Simple: A car or other powered vehicle that you drive on roads.
   - _She pulled up outside the cafe in a flashy new motor._
   - _He sold his old motor and took the train to work instead._
6. Something that provides power or inspiration, making something happen or keeping it going.
   - Simple: A driving force that pushes something forward or keeps it going.
   - _Cheap credit became the motor of the country's economic boom._
   - _Her ambition was the motor driving the whole project forward._
8. In biology, a protein that powers movement or other mechanical work by using chemical energy.
   - Simple: A protein that turns chemical energy into movement inside cells.
   - _Kinesin is a motor that walks along microtubules carrying cellular cargo._
   - _Several molecular motors power the contraction of muscle fibers._

## Adjective

2. Powered by an engine, used especially of cars, trucks, and other road vehicles and of the industries and sports built around them.
   - Simple: Powered by an engine, or having to do with cars, trucks, and other road vehicles.
   - _Thousands of jobs in the region depend on the motor industry._
   - _The old steamers were gradually replaced by faster motor vessels._
3. Relating to movement or the body's ability to produce and control it.
   - Simple: Having to do with moving the body or its parts.
   - _The injury affected his motor function on the left side._
   - _Fine motor skills let children hold a pencil correctly._

## Verb

7. To move or make progress at a brisk pace. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To keep moving along quickly and steadily.
   - _Once she found her rhythm, she motored through the final chapters._
   - _Once she finds her rhythm on the trail, she can motor along for miles without slowing down._
9. To leave; to head off from a place. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To go away or leave a place.
   - _Grab your coat, we need to motor before the traffic gets bad._
   - _It's getting late, so we should probably motor before the last train leaves._

## Verb

5. To make a journey by car; to drive somewhere. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To travel somewhere by car.
   - _The couple motored through France on their honeymoon._
   - _On fine afternoons they would motor out to the hills._

## Noun

10. God, regarded as the first mover and ruler of the universe. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: God, seen as the power that moves and controls the whole universe.

## Other meanings

- (verb) To spin a jet or turboprop engine with its starter while keeping fuel out of it.
- (noun) The mass of fermenting fruit from which inmates make pruno, also called prison wine.

## Origin

Latin moveō ("to move") plus the agent suffix -tor made mōtor ("mover; that which moves something"), and that reached Middle English as motour ("controller, prime mover; God").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/motor (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).