[syn: motive(a), motor]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Motor \Mo"tor\, n. [L., fr. movere, motum, to move.]
1. One who, or that which, imparts motion; a source of
mechanical power.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Mach.) A prime mover; a machine by means of which a
source of power, as steam, moving water, electricity,
etc., is made available for doing mechanical work.
[1913 Webster]
3. A motor car; an automobile. [archiac Colloq.]
[Webster 1913 Suppl.] Motory
Motor
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Motor \Mo"tor\, Motory \Mo"to*ry\, Motorial \Mo*to"ri*al\, a.
[L. motorius that has motion. See Motor, n.]
Causing or setting up motion; pertaining to organs of motion;
-- applied especially in physiology to those nerves or nerve
fibers which only convey impressions from a nerve center to
muscles, thereby causing motion.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
motor
adj 1: conveying information to the muscles from the CNS; "motor
nerves" [syn: centrifugal, motor(a)]
2: causing or able to cause motion; "a motive force"; "motive
power"; "motor energy" [syn: motive(a), motor]
n 1: machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical
energy and so imparts motion
2: a nonspecific agent that imparts motion; "happiness is the
aim of all men and the motor of all action"
v 1: travel or be transported in a vehicle; "We drove to the
university every morning"; "They motored to London for the
theater" [syn: drive, motor]