# motor

/ˈmoʊtɝ/ (US) · /mˈəʊtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/motor
Updated: 2026-04-30

## Senses

### 1. engine

noun · CEFR A2

a machine that uses electricity or fuel to make something move.

For teachers: a machine or device that converts any form of energy into mechanical energy to impart motion.

- The washing machine stopped working because the motor burned out.
- The engineer inspected the electric motor to determine why it was failing to provide enough torque for the conveyor belt.

### 2. driving force

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

the main thing or person that makes a project or idea successful.

For teachers: a figurative source of power, inspiration, or momentum for a specific cause or movement.

- Small businesses are the motor of the country's economy.
- Her relentless ambition served as the primary motor for the department's expansion into international markets.

### 3. a car

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

a car or automobile.

For teachers: a motor vehicle, specifically a car.

- That is a very nice motor you have parked outside.
- He spent his entire weekend polishing his new motor until the paintwork gleamed in the sunlight.

### 4. physical movement

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

relating to the way your muscles move your body.

For teachers: relating to muscular movement or the nerves that activate it.

- Playing video games can help children develop their fine motor skills.
- The patient showed significant improvement in motor function following several weeks of intensive physical therapy.

### 5. to move fast

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to move or progress very quickly.

For teachers: to travel or progress at a brisk or steady pace.

- Once we finished the first chapter, we really started motoring through the book.
- After a slow start to the project, the team is now motoring along and should finish by Friday.

### 6. to drive

verb · CEFR C1 · Archaic

to travel by car.

For teachers: to travel by motor vehicle; to drive.

- In the summer, they would motor down to the coast for the weekend.
- The family intended to motor across the countryside, stopping at various inns along the historic route.

## Examples

- The electric motor in the fan is very quiet.
- The mechanic checked the small motor that controls the car's power windows to see why it stopped working.
- Engineers are developing a more efficient brushless motor that reduces friction and heat, significantly extending the battery life of modern electric vehicles.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.