• (RP) IPA: /ˈməʊtə/
• (GA) IPA: /ˈmoʊtɚ/

motor (plural motors)

1. A machine or device that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy, or imparts motion.
2. (colloquial) A motor car, or automobile.

   Nice motor!

   • 1907, Robert William Chambers, “His Own People”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326 ↗, page 6 ↗:

     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.

   • 1918, Edith Wharton, chapter I, in The Marne, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, OCLC 297181 ↗, page 1 ↗:

     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, [...]

3. (figuratively) A source of power for something; an inspiration; a driving force.
4. Any protein capable of converting chemical energy into mechanical work.
5. (Christianity, archaic, poetic) The controller or prime mover of the universe; God.
6. (prison slang) The fermenting mass of fruit that is the basis of pruno, or "prison wine".

   Synonyms: kicker

• engine

• motoric

• French: moteur
• German: Motor, Triebwerk, Antrieb
• Italian: motore
• Portuguese: motor
• Russian: мото́р
• Spanish: motor

• Italian: macchina, auto, autovettura
• Portuguese: motor
• Spanish: motor

motor (not comparable)

1. (biology) relating to the ability to move

   She has excellent motor skills.

2. Relating to motor cars

   Motor insurance is expensive for youngsters.

3. (nautical) Propelled by an internal combustion engine (as opposed to a steam engine or turbine).

• Portuguese: motor
• Spanish: motor

motor (motors, present participle motoring; past and past participle motored)

1. (dated) To make a journey by motor vehicle; to drive.

   On Saturday we motored down to Plymouth.

2. (informal) To move at a brisk pace.

   Sales were slow at first, but now things are really motoring.

3. (slang) To leave.

   I gotta motor.