motor

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motor^¹

/ˈməʊtə/ UK
/ˈmoʊtəɹ/ Canada, US
[ˈmoʊɾɚ] Canada, US
/ˈməʉtə/ Australia
[ˈməʉɾə] Australia
/ˈmɐʉtə/ Australia
[ˈmɐʉɾə] Australia
/ˈmɐʉtə/ New Zealand
[ˈmɐʉɾə] New Zealand
/ˈmotəɾ/ Scotland

Rhymes with -əʊtə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

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

noun motors · motour

A machine or device that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy, or imparts motion. Near-synonyms: drive, engine (sometimes synonymous)
Similar: drive, engine
A motor car, or automobile, sometimes extended to other powered vehicles, such as goods vehicles. Nice motor!
figuratively A source of power for something; an inspiration; a driving force.
Similar: engine
Any protein capable of converting chemical energy into mechanical work.
archaic, poetic The controller or prime mover of the universe; God.
slang The fermenting mass of fruit that is the basis of pruno, or "prison wine".
Similar: kicker

adjective

not comparable Relating to the ability to move. She has excellent motor skills.
not comparable Propelled by an internal combustion engine (as opposed to a steam engine or turbine). A motor yacht for its size has about 30 per cent more accommodations than a steamer of the same size.

verb motors · motoring · motored

dated, transitive To make a journey by motor vehicle; to drive. On Saturday we motored down to Plymouth.
Similar: moto
transitive To rotate a jet engine or turboprop using the engine's starter, without introducing fuel into the engine. During startup, the engine should be motored for 20 to 30 seconds to allow the shafts to straighten out, as they may have become bowed under their own weight while the airplane was sitting on the ground.
figuratively, informal, intransitive To progress at a brisk pace. Sales were slow at first, but now things are really motoring.
intransitive, slang To leave. I gotta motor.

Motor^²

proper noun

alternative Alternative form of Mator (“Samoyedic language”).

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: centrifugal, efferent, motive, causative, drive, mainspring, powered, dynamo, automotive, crankcase, powerhouse, powertrain, mechanized, auto, engine, fuel

Translations

Every language

noun machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy

Español	motor
한국어	모터 moteo, 기관 gigwan, 엔진 enjin
日本語	モーター mōtā, エンジン enjin, 機関 kikan, 機械 kikai, 発動機 hatsudōki, 原動機 kendōki
中文	馬達 /马达 mǎdá, 摩托 mótuō, 引擎 yǐnqíng, 發動機 /发动机 fādòngjī, 電動機 /电动机 diàndòngjī
हिन्दी	मोटर moṭar, इंजन iñjan
Português	motor
Français	moteur
Deutsch	Motor, Triebwerk, Antrieb
Italiano	motore
Ελληνικά	μηχανή michaní, κινητήρας kinitíras
Română	motor
Русский	мото́р motór, дви́гатель dvígatelʹ
Tiếng Việt	động cơ, mô-tơ
العربية	مُحَرِّك muḥarrik, مُوتُور mutūr
עברית	מָנוֹעַ manóa

noun colloquial: motor car — see also automobile

Español	motor
Português	motor
Italiano	macchina, auto, autovettura

noun figuratively: source of power; driving force

Русский	дви́житель dvížitelʹ, дви́жущая си́ла dvížuščaja síla

adj biology: relating to ability to move

Español	motor
Português	motor
Italiano	motorio
Ελληνικά	κινητικός kinitikós

adj relating to motor cars

Русский	автомоби́льный avtomobílʹnyj

adj nautical: propelled by an internal combustion engine

Русский	мото́рный motórnyj

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MLA

"motor." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/motor. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

motor. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/motor

Chicago

"motor." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/motor.

BibTeX

@misc{motor_2026,
  title = {motor},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/motor},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}