Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti
Proto-Italic *moweō
Latin moveō
Proto-Indo-European *-tōr
Proto-Italic *-tōr
Latin -tor
Latin mōtorder.
Middle English motour
English motor
From Middle English motour (“controller, prime mover; God”), from Latin mōtor (“mover; that which moves something”), from mōtō (“to set in motion”).
Meanings
(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. 1915 June, “Many Yachts to Go in Commission”, in The American Marine Engineer:
sv motorisk (biology: relating to ability to move) · bg автомобилен (relating to motor cars) · af motories (biology: relating to ability to move) · sv motor- (nautical: propelled by an internal combustion engine) · bg двигателен (biology: relating to ability to move) · ru автомоби́льный (relating to motor cars) · fi moottori- (nautical: propelled by an internal combustion engine) · ru мото́рный (nautical: propelled by an internal combustion engine) · pt motor (biology: relating to ability to move) · es motor (biology: relating to ability to move) · ca motor (biology: relating to ability to move) · el κινητικός (biology: relating to ability to move) · bg моторен (nautical: propelled by an internal combustion engine) · mi whakaneke (biology: relating to ability to move) · sv bil- (relating to motor cars) · ga luaileach (biology: relating to ability to move) · cs motorický (biology: relating to ability to move) · fi moottori- (relating to motor cars) · fi motorinen (biology: relating to ability to move) · it motorio (biology: relating to ability to move) · fi ajoneuvo- (relating to motor cars)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti
Proto-Italic *moweō
Latin moveō
Proto-Indo-European *-tōr
Proto-Italic *-tōr
Latin -tor
Latin mōtorder.
Middle English motour
English motor
From Middle English motour (“controller, prime mover; God”), from Latin mōtor (“mover; that which moves something”), from mōtō (“to set in motion”).
Meanings
A machine or device that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy, or imparts motion.
The door can close by itself because there's a small motor built into it.
(qualifier:now colloquial outside attributive use) A motor car, or automobile, sometimes extended to other powered vehicles, such as goods vehicles.
Goods motors for which "A" licences are held are free to operate anywhere, to pick up the most remunerative traffic, and the points between which the best back loads are available. 1944 November and December, T. F. Cameron, “Motor and Cartage Working”, in Railway Magazine, page 338:
It was flood-tide along Fifth Avenue; motor, brougham, and victoria swept by on the glittering current; pretty women glanced out from limousine and tonneau; young men of his own type, silk-hatted, frock-coated, the crooks of their walking sticks tucked up under their left arms, passed on the Park side. 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “His Own People”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 6:
Motor insurance is expensive for youngsters.
Nice motor!
'However, you go and try your luck and see how you like it.' With that he flung himself into his motor and was off. 1929, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, When the World Screamed:
Every since the age of six Troy Belknap of New York had embarked for Europe every June on the fastest steamer of one of the most expensive lines. With his family he had descended at the dock from a large noiseless motor, had kissed his father good-bye, turned back to shake hands with the chauffeur (a particular friend), and trotted up the gang-plank behind his mother's maid, [...] 1918, Edith Wharton, chapter I, in The Marne, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC, page 1:
The screeching of brakes, the monotonous blare of motor horns, the clip-clip of shoes on slippery pavements, the rustling of wet mackintoshes were all part of the great metropolis. 1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter XXII, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, published 1940, page 214:
(figuratively) A source of power for something; an inspiration; a driving force.
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".
de Triebwerk (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ca motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · yue 引擎 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · nb motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · pt motor (colloquial: motor car — see also automobile) · ur اِنْجَن (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · it motore (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · zh 摩托 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · mwl motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · tk dwigatel (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · mt mutur (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · mi initia (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · mn хөдөлгүүр (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · kk қозғалтқыш (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · nl motorrijtuig (colloquial: motor car — see also automobile) · bg дви́гател (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · te చిన్న కారు (colloquial: motor car — see also automobile) · id mesin (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · fi moottori (figuratively: source of power; driving force) · za fazdunggih (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ur موٹَر (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · af motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · es motor (colloquial: motor car — see also automobile) · hu motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ug موتور (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · fi moottori (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · km ម៉ូតូ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · eo motoro (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ha mōtā̀ (colloquial: motor car — see also automobile) · es motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ga mótar (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · lt motoras (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · sq motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · vi mô-tơ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · yue 發動機 /发动机 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ug ماتور (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · lt variklis (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · yo mọ́tò (colloquial: motor car — see also automobile) · is mótor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · te యంత్రము (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · az mühərrik (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · kk мотор (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · my အင်ဂျင် (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ka მოტორი (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ja モーター (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · it autovettura (colloquial: motor car — see also automobile) · zh 發動機 /发动机 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · pl silnik (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · hi मोटर (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · hi इंजन (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · zh 電動機 /电动机 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · bo ཤེད་འཕྲུལ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · lv motors (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ko 엔진 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · it auto (colloquial: motor car — see also automobile) · ja エンジン (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · mi pūkaha (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · th เครื่องยนต์ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · sk motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · tg муҳаррик (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · io motoro (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ar مُحَرِّك (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · fr moteur (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · lo ຍົນ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ja 機関 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · uk мото́р (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · pdt Inzhen (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · mi mīhini (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ko 기관 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · el μηχανή (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · kw jynn (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · khb ᦝᦱᧉᦎᦳᧂᧈᦋᦲᧈ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · tt мотор (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · hrx Motoer (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · mt magna f {2} (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · sh мо̀то̄р (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · pt motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · nup mátò (colloquial: motor car — see also automobile) · mnw မဝ်တာ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · fo motorur (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · el κινητήρας (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · zh 馬達 /马达 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ru дви́гатель (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · yue 摩托 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · yi מאָטאָר (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · mk мотор (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · mn мотор (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · sh mòtōr (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · id enjin (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · be рухаві́к (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · uz muharrik (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · fa موتور (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ps انجن (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · de Antrieb (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · nrf engîn (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ja 原動機 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · sv motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ru дви́жущая си́ла (figuratively: source of power; driving force) · ru мото́р (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ps ماشين (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · lv dzinējs (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · da motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ja 機械 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · fa موتَر (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · bg дви́жеща си́ла (figuratively: source of power; driving force) · ne मोटर (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ja 発動機 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · it macchina (colloquial: motor car — see also automobile) · th มอเตอร์ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · mi iniana (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ky мотор (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ky кыймылдаткыч (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · kmr makîne (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · sq motor (figuratively: source of power; driving force) · uz dvigatel (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · et mootor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · tg мотор (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · cy modur (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · be мато́р (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · nv atsiitsʼiin (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ms motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · gd motar (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · yue 馬達 /马达 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ar مُوتُور (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · cs motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · fa مُحَرِّک (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · nl motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · km ម៉ាស៊ីន (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · tr motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · nn motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ro motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · bn মোটর (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · lo ມໍເຕີ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · am ሞተር (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · bn ইঞ্জিন (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · my မော်တော် (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · bg мото́р (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · vi động cơ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · zh 引擎 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · he מָנוֹעַ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ia motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · id motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · kl motoori (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · hy շարժիչ (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · az motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · uk двигу́н (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · se mohtor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ms enjin (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · sl motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · af enjin (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · de Motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ko 모터 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ka ძრავა (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · yue 電動機 /电动机 (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · uz motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · kmr motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · ru дви́житель (figuratively: source of power; driving force) · fi moottoriproteiini (protein capable of converting chemical energy into mechanical work) · tt йөрткеч (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy) · tk motor (machine that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti
Proto-Italic *moweō
Latin moveō
Proto-Indo-European *-tōr
Proto-Italic *-tōr
Latin -tor
Latin mōtorder.
Middle English motour
English motor
From Middle English motour (“controller, prime mover; God”), from Latin mōtor (“mover; that which moves something”), from mōtō (“to set in motion”).
Meanings
(dated, transitive) To make a journey by motor vehicle; to drive.
The practice used to be for such consignments to be loaded as tranships to the large centre, but this involved rather slow transits, and to a considerable extent these consignments are now motored to the large centre, and in the average case the transit is improved by a day. 1944 November and December, T. F. Cameron, “Motor and Cartage Working”, in Railway Magazine, pages 336–337:
On Saturday we motored down to Plymouth.
1983, Kelly Keagy (of the music group Night Ranger), "Sister Christian"
You're motoring / What's your price for flight / In finding mister right? / You'll be alright tonight
Well, if you ever plan to motor west / Jack, take my way, it's the highway that's the best / Get your kicks on Route 66 1946 April 22, Bobby Troup, “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66”, in New Juke Box Hits, performed by Chuck Berry, published March 1961, side 2, track 2:
(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.
More recently, ORR has been developing its knowledge and skills in cyber and digital security. Prosser says this is really "motoring". 2023 November 15, Ian Prosser talks to Stefanie Foster, “A healthy person is a more productive person”, in RAIL, number 996, page 34:
Sales were slow at first, but now things are really motoring.
fi mennä lujaa (informal: to move at a brisk pace) · fi autoilla (to make a journey by motor vehicle — see also drive) · fi mennä kovaa (informal: to move at a brisk pace) · fi liueta (slang: to leave)