motor
/ˈmoʊtəɹ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.53 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A machine or device that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy, or imparts motion.
noun
A motor car, or automobile, sometimes extended to other powered vehicles, such as goods vehicles.
noun
A source of power for something; an inspiration; a driving force.
noun
Any protein capable of converting chemical energy into mechanical work.
adj
Propelled by an internal combustion engine (as opposed to a steam engine or turbine).
Example Sentences
- "Near-synonyms: drive, engine (sometimes synonymous)"
- "The door can close by itself because there's a small motor built into it."
- "Nice motor!"
- "Motor insurance is expensive for youngsters."
- "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."
- "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, [...]"
Etymology
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”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈmoʊtəɹ/
- British English: /ˈməʊtə/