From Middle English motour, from Latin mōtor, from mōtō ("I set in motion").

• (RP) IPA: /ˈməʊtə/
• (America) IPA: /ˈmoʊtəɹ/, [ˈmoʊɾɚ]

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, even a goods vehicle.

   Nice motor!

   • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “His Own People”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC ↗, 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 ↗, 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

• Russian: дви́житель

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).

• Italian: motorio
• Portuguese: motor
• Spanish: motor

• Russian: автомоби́льный

• Russian: мото́рный

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

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

   Synonyms: moto

   On Saturday we motored down to Plymouth.

2. (transitive, aviation) 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.

3. (informal, figurative) To progress at a brisk pace.

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

4. (slang) To leave.

   I gotta motor.