motif
914
mo·tif /məu'ti:f/ also motive n 1 a main subject, pattern,
idea etc, on which a work of art is based, or from which it is
developed 2 a single or repeated pattern or colour: a cat
motif on the child's pyjamas 3 an often-repeated arrange-
ment of notes in a musical work → compare LEITMOTIV
mo·tion¹ /'məuʃən/ n 1 [U] the act, way, or process of
moving: The gentle rolling motion of the ship made me feel
sleepy. | Parts of the film were shown again in slow motion.
(=the movements appearing slower than in real life) 2 [C] a
single or particular movement or way of moving: With a
motion of his hand he summoned the waiter. 3 [C] a sugges-
tion formally made at a meeting: His motion was rejected. |
[+to-v] The motion to increase the club's membership charges
was carried/defeated by 15 votes to 10. | [+that] The committee
passed a motion that the bar should remain open until mid-
night. → see also MOVE¹ 4 [C] especially BrE fml an act of
emptying the bowels: The doctor asked if the child's motions
were regular. 5 go through the motions infml to do some-
thing without care and interest, and only because one has to
do it: The doctor was sure the man wasn't really ill, but he
went through the motions of examining him. 6 put/set
something in motion to start a machine or a process: Pull
this handle to set the machine in motion. | If we're all agreed,
we can put the plans in motion straight away. → see also
TIME-AND-MOTION
motion² v 1 [(to, at)] to signal with a movement, usually
with the hand: She motioned to the waiter. 2 [T+obj+to-v/adv/
prep] to direct (someone) with a movement, usually with the
hand: He opened the door and motioned me to come
in/motioned me into the room.
mo·tion·less /'məuʃənləs/ adj without any movement;
completely still: The cat remained motionless, waiting for the
mouse to come out of its hole. —ly adv —ness n [U]
,motion 'picture n AmE a cinema film —motion picture adj:
the motion picture industry
,Motion ,Picture Asso.ciation of A'merica, the the
full name of the MPAA
'motion ,sickness n [U] AmE for TRAVEL SICKNESS
mo·ti·vate /'məutıveıt/ v [T] 1 to provide (someone) with a
(strong) reason for doing something: He was motivated by
love, and expected nothing in return. | We've got to try and
motivate our salesmen. (=make them try harder to sell
things) | [+obj+to-v] There is little to motivate these kids to work
hard at school. 2 [often pass.] to be the reason why (some-
thing) is done: This murder was motivated by hatred.
mo·ti·va·tion / ,məutı'veıʃən/ n [U] the state of being moti-
vated; need or purpose: The stronger the motivation, the more
quickly a person will learn a foreign language. | [+to-v] His
parents give him so much money that he's got no motivation to
get a job.
mo·ti·va·tor /'mautıveıtə/ n something or someone that
makes you want to do or achieve something: Money is a
good motivator. → compare INCENTIVE
mo·tive¹ /'məutiv/ n a reason for action; that which urges a
person to act in a certain way: Jealousy was the motive for
the murder/the murder motive. | What do you think his
motives were in helping us? | We had begun to suspect his
motives. (=to think that he had acted for bad reasons)
—less adj
motive² adj [A] tech or fml (of power, force etc) causing
movement or action: The wind provides the motive power
that turns this wheel. | I think his wife was the motive force
behind his resignation. (=she made him leave his job)
mot juste /məu 'zu:st/ n pl. mots justes (same pronunciation)
[(the)] Fr exactly the right word or phrase
mot·ley¹ /'motlil 'ma:tli/ adj 1 derog of many different kinds:
His friends were a motley crew. | a motley collection of books
on the shelf 2 [A] lit (especially of a garment) of different
mixed colours, like the clothes worn by a JESTER
motley² n [U] lit or tech the clothes worn by a JESTER
mo·to·cross /'məutəukrɔsl-lkrɔ:s/ n [U] the sport of racing
on motorcycles over a rough country track including steep
hills, streams etc
mo·tor¹ /'məutə/ n 1 a machine that changes power, espe-
cially electrical power, into movement, and is used for
working other machines: This lawn mower is driven by a
small electric motor. → see MACHINE¹ (USAGE) 2 BrE infml a car
motor² adj [A] 1 driven by an engine: a motor boat | a motor
scooter | a motor mower 2 especially BrE of or for cars or other
vehicles driven by an engine, especially those used on roads:
the motor industry/trade | a motor accident | motor racing | a
motor magazine 3 tech of or being a nerve that causes a
muscle to move: impaired motor functions
mo·tor³ v [I+adv/prep] especially BrE becoming rare to travel by car,
especially for pleasure: We motored over to Cambridge to see
some friends. —ing n [U] to go motoring in France | a
motoring correspondent
motorbike
motorbike
scooter
mo·tor·bike /'məutəbaɪkl-tər-/ n 1 BrE infml a motorcy-
cle 2 AmE a small light motorcycle → see TRANSPORT (USAGE)
mo·tor·boat /'məutəbəutl-tər-/ n a boat, especially a fast
one, driven by an engine
mo·tor·cade /'məutəkeıdl-tər-/ n a procession of cars and
other motor vehicles, especially one in which an important
person is travelling: the president's motorcade
mo·tor·car /'məutəka: ll-tər-/ n BrE fml a car
'motor ,caravan BrE || 'motor home AmE —.n a large
vehicle usually used for holidays, which has beds, a table,
and a kitchen area in the back
mo·tor·cy·cle /'məutə,saıkəll-tər-/ n a large heavy bicycle
driven by an engine → see TRANSPORT (USAGE); —clist n
'motor home n a large vehicle with beds, a kitchen, a toilet
etc, used for travelling and holidays → compare MOBILE
HOME
mo·tor·ing /'məutərıŋ/ n [U] see MOTOR
mo·tor·ist /'mautərıst/ n a person who drives a car →
compare PEDESTRIAN¹
mo·tor·ize also -ise BrE /'məutəraiz/ v [T] 1 to provide (a
vehicle) with a motor 2 to provide (soldiers, an army etc)
with motor vehicles
'motor lodge n AmE a MOTEL
mo·tor·man /'məutəmənll-tər-/ n pl. -men /men/ a driver of
a vehicle driven by a motor, especially an electric train
mo·tor·mouth /'məutəmauθll-tər-/ n AmE infml derog a person
who talks too much and too loudly
motor neu·rone dis·ease /,məutə 'njuərəun dı,zı:zll
-tər 'nur-/ n [U] a disease that causes a gradual loss of
control over the muscles and nerves of the body, resulting in
death
Mo·to·ro·la /ˌməutəˈrəulə/ trademark a company that makes
telephones and computer equipment
'motor racing n [U] the sport of racing fast cars on special
courses, usually outdoors → see also GRAND PRIX, STOCKCAR
'motor ,scooter also scooter n a low vehicle with two
small wheels, an enclosed engine, and usually a wide curved
part at the front to protect the legs
'Motor Show, the an international show of new types or
designs of cars, which takes place every two years at the
NATIONAL EXHIBITION CENTRE, in Birmingham, England.
'motor vehicle n an official word for a vehicle which is
powered by a motor, especially an INTERNAL-COMBUSTION
ENGINE: This road is closed to motor vehicles. (=is open to
people on foot or on bicycles)
mo·tor·way /'məutəweil-tər-/ BrE || freeway AmE —n a
very wide road built for fast long-distance travel: The M1 is
one of the longest motorways in Britain. → see also Cultural
Note at HIGHWAY
,motorway 'madness n [U] BrE a dangerous situation in