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motion

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈmoʊʃən// UK //mˈəʊʃən// mo·tion Archaic General-service Humorous Slang

n. the act or process of moving. You use this to describe how something changes its position or the way someone moves their body.

n. the action or process of moving or being moved. In a formal or legal context, it refers to a formal proposal put to a committee or court for a decision.


SIMPLE

The slow motion of the clouds is very relaxing.

CONTEXTUAL

The lawyer filed a motion to dismiss the case based on a lack of evidence.

COMPLEX

Newton's laws describe how the motion of an object changes when it is subjected to external forces, providing a foundation for classical mechanics.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Inherited from Middle English mocioun, mocion, from Anglo-Norman motion, Middle French motion, and their etymon Latin mōtiō (“movement, motion”), related to movēre, from Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- (“to move”).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general concept of movement; countable when referring to a specific gesture or a formal legal proposal.

Pitfall

The car was in a motion.The car was in motion.When describing the state of moving, the noun is uncountable and does not take an article.

Idioms5 entries

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