Motor — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈmō-tər/ mo·tor

Meaning & Definition of Motor

Motor (noun)

  1. one that imparts motion; specifically, prime mover
  2. any of various power units that develop energy or impart motion
  3. a small compact engine

Motor (adjective)

  1. causing or imparting motion
  2. of, relating to, or being a motor neuron or a nerve containing motor neurons
  3. of, relating to, concerned with, or involving muscular movement

Motor (verb)

  1. to travel by automobile, drive
  2. to move or proceed at a vigorous steady pace
  3. to transport by automobile

Motor (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a device that changes energy into mechanical motion

    "the device was equipped with a small electrical motor to make the gears spin"

    similar: engine, machine
    related: converter, transformer, appliance, mechanism, equipment, tool, mill

  2. a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels

    "went shopping for a new automobile at Valley Motors"

    similar: auto, automobile, bus, car, horseless carriage, machine, motor vehicle, motorcar, wheels (slang)
    related: coach, jitney, microbus, minibus, minivan, omnibus, van, convertible, fastback, hardtop, hatchback, notchback, ragtop, sports car, sport-utility vehicle, station wagon, SUV, town car, wagon, woody, compact, coupe, intermediate, limousine, mini, minicar, sedan, subcompact, V-8, gas-guzzler, land yacht, muscle car, stock car, turbocar, beater, clunker, crate, flivver, jalopy, junker, cream puff, phaeton, roadster, tin lizzie, touring car, hybrid

Motor (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to proceed or move quickly

    "effortlessly motored past the other runners for a first-place finish"

    similar: barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it
    related: beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle, stampede, streak, whiz, gallop, jog, sprint, accelerate, quicken, step out, catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake, arrow, beeline
    opposite: crawl, creep, poke
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

  2. to travel by a motorized vehicle

    "motoring along the highway at the speed limit"

    similar: automobile, drive, tool
    related: roll, wheel, joyride, chauffeur, hack, taxi, ride, drag, race

Related Entry: Motor home (noun)

Motor home is a different word from Motor. The synonyms below are for motor home, not for motor.

  1. a motor vehicle that is specially equipped for living while traveling

    "they lived out of their motor home until they found a suitable house"

    similar: camper, caravan, recreational vehicle, RV, trailer
    related: house trailer, mobile home, coach, van

Related Entry: Motor vehicle (noun)

Motor vehicle is a different word from Motor. The synonyms below are for motor vehicle, not for motor.

  1. a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels

    "got a license to drive a motor vehicle the minute she turned 16"

    similar: auto, automobile, bus, car, horseless carriage, machine, motor, motorcar, wheels (slang)
    related: coach, jitney, microbus, minibus, minivan, omnibus, van, convertible, fastback, hardtop, hatchback, notchback, ragtop, sports car, sport-utility vehicle, station wagon, SUV, town car, wagon, woody, compact, coupe, intermediate, limousine, mini, minicar, sedan, subcompact, V-8, gas-guzzler, land yacht, muscle car, stock car, turbocar, beater, clunker, crate, flivver, jalopy, junker, cream puff, phaeton, roadster, tin lizzie, touring car, hybrid

Related Entry: Motor court (noun)

Motor court is a different word from Motor. The synonyms below are for motor court, not for motor.

  1. as in court, motor inn

    similar: court, motel, motor inn, motor lodge, resort, spa, tourist court, youth hostel, accommodations, lodgings, rest, camp, campground, apartment hotel, bunkhouse, dorm, dormitory, B and B, bed-and-breakfast, guesthouse, boardinghouse, lodging house, rooming house, auberge, caravansary, hospice, hostel, hostelry, hotel, inn, lodge, public house, tavern, doss-house (chiefly British), fleabag, flophouse

Related Entry: Motor courts (noun)

Motor courts is a different word from Motor. The synonyms below are for motor courts, not for motor.

  1. as in courts, motor inns

    similar: courts, motels, motor inns, motor lodges, resorts, spas, tourist courts, youth hostels, accommodations, lodgings, rests, campgrounds, camps, apartment hotels, bunkhouses, dormitories, dorms, B and Bs, bed-and-breakfasts, guesthouses, boardinghouses, lodging houses, rooming houses, auberges, caravansaries, hospices, hostelries, hostels, hotels, inns, lodges, public houses, taverns, doss-houses (chiefly British), fleabags, flophouses

Related Entry: Motor inn (noun)

Motor inn is a different word from Motor. The synonyms below are for motor inn, not for motor.

  1. as in motor court, court

    similar: court, motel, motor court, motor lodge, resort, spa, tourist court, youth hostel, accommodations, lodgings, rest, camp, campground, apartment hotel, bunkhouse, dorm, dormitory, B and B, bed-and-breakfast, guesthouse, boardinghouse, lodging house, rooming house, auberge, caravansary, hospice, hostel, hostelry, hotel, inn, lodge, public house, tavern, doss-house (chiefly British), fleabag, flophouse

Related Entry: Motor inns (noun)

Motor inns is a different word from Motor. The synonyms below are for motor inns, not for motor.

  1. as in motor courts, courts

    similar: courts, motels, motor courts, motor lodges, resorts, spas, tourist courts, youth hostels, accommodations, lodgings, rests, campgrounds, camps, apartment hotels, bunkhouses, dormitories, dorms, B and Bs, bed-and-breakfasts, guesthouses, boardinghouses, lodging houses, rooming houses, auberges, caravansaries, hospices, hostelries, hostels, hotels, inns, lodges, public houses, taverns, doss-houses (chiefly British), fleabags, flophouses

Related Entry: Motor lodge (noun)

Motor lodge is a different word from Motor. The synonyms below are for motor lodge, not for motor.

  1. as in motor inn, motor court

    similar: court, motel, motor court, motor inn, resort, spa, tourist court, youth hostel, accommodations, lodgings, rest, camp, campground, apartment hotel, bunkhouse, dorm, dormitory, B and B, bed-and-breakfast, guesthouse, boardinghouse, lodging house, rooming house, auberge, caravansary, hospice, hostel, hostelry, hotel, inn, lodge, public house, tavern, doss-house (chiefly British), fleabag, flophouse

Related Entry: Motor lodges (noun)

Motor lodges is a different word from Motor. The synonyms below are for motor lodges, not for motor.

  1. as in motor inns, motor courts

    similar: courts, motels, motor courts, motor inns, resorts, spas, tourist courts, youth hostels, accommodations, lodgings, rests, campgrounds, camps, apartment hotels, bunkhouses, dormitories, dorms, B and Bs, bed-and-breakfasts, guesthouses, boardinghouses, lodging houses, rooming houses, auberges, caravansaries, hospices, hostelries, hostels, hotels, inns, lodges, public houses, taverns, doss-houses (chiefly British), fleabags, flophouses

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Motor

The most common words with a similar meaning to Motor:

Slang: wheels, bomb
engine, machine, auto, automobile, bus, car, horseless carriage, motor vehicle, motorcar, barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Motor

Words with the opposite meaning of Motor:

crawl, creep, poke

Related Words for Motor

converter, transformer, appliance, mechanism, equipment, mill, coach, jitney, microbus, minibus, minivan, omnibus, van, convertible, fastback, hardtop, hatchback, notchback, ragtop, sports car, sport-utility vehicle, station wagon, SUV, town car, wagon, woody, compact, coupe, intermediate, limousine

Near Antonyms of Motor

dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

Word Forms of Motor

Inflections: motored, motoring, motors

Derived words: motordom (noun), motorless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Motor

Latin, from movēre to move

First known use: 1586

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Motor

Words & Phrases Containing Motor

motor bus, motor court, motor home, motor inn, motor lodge, motor neuron, motor pool

Frequently Asked Questions about Motor

What does "Motor" mean?

"Motor" means one that imparts motion; specifically, prime mover. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: one that imparts motion; specifically, prime mover. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Motor"?

Other words for "Motor" include engine, machine, auto, automobile, bus, car, horseless carriage and motor vehicle. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Motor" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Motor"?

There are 154 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Motor". Common alternatives include engine, machine, auto, automobile, bus, car, horseless carriage, motor vehicle, motorcar and wheels.

What is the opposite of "Motor"?

Antonyms of "Motor" include crawl, creep and poke. Near antonyms include dally, dawdle, dillydally and drag.

How do you use "Motor" in a sentence?

Examples of "Motor" in a sentence: "the device was equipped with a small electrical motor to make the gears spin"; "went shopping for a new automobile at Valley Motors"; "effortlessly motored past the other runners for a first-place finish".

Is "Motor" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Motor" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Motor" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Motor" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Motor"?

"Motor" is pronounced /ˈmō-tər/ and divided into syllables as mo·tor.