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motion definition

mo·tion (mō′s̸hən)

noun

  1. the act or process of moving; passage of a body from one place to another; movement
  2. the act of moving the body or any of its parts
  3. a meaningful movement of the hand, eyes, etc.; gesture
  4. Rare the ability to move
  5. an impulse; inclination of one's own motion
  6. a proposal; suggestion; esp. a proposal formally made in an assembly or meeting
  7. Law an application to a court for a ruling, order, etc.
  8. Mech. a combination of moving parts; mechanism
  9. Music melodic progression, as a change from one pitch to another in a voice part

Etymology: ME mocioun < L motio (gen. motionis), a moving < motus, pp. of movere, move

intransitive verb

to make a meaningful movement of the hand, head, etc.; gesture

transitive verb

to direct or command by a meaningful gesture

Related Forms:

motion Idioms

go through the motions

to do something from habit or according to formalities, but without enthusiasm, personal involvement, etc.

in motion

moving; traveling or in operation

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms motion idiom

law motion definition - legal

medical motion definition - medical

motion Synonyms

motion

n.

  1. A movement

    change, act, action; see movement 2.

  2. The state of moving

    passage, translating, changing; see movement 1.

  3. An act formally proposed

    proposal, suggestion, consideration, proposition; see plan 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

motion Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • jiggle: Multi-colored ribbons encourage exploration, and a pull on the Whoozit character activates an exciting jiggling motion.

Preposition: for

  • adjournment: Wednesday 14 December A debate on European affairs on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.

Adjective modifier

  • slow: They're not just ' cheesy ' slow motion to music which drags on for ages.

Modifies a noun

  • sickness: Motion sickness provides a unique setting for the study of nausea.

Noun used with modifier

  • early-day: Members who signed my early-day motion on testing for deafness in babies.
motion usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

motion quotes

   Merit and good works is the end of man's motion, and conscience of the same is the accomplishment of man's rest.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

Between the idea And the reality Between the motion And the act Falls the shadow.

-Eliot,T(homas) S(tearns)

The aimof everyartist istoarrest motion, which islife, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life.

-Faulkner,William Harrison

motion quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"motion." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/motion>

APA Style

motion. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/motion

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