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move

v. · n.
US //ˈmuv// UK //mˈuːv// move
  1. 1 to change position (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to change your position or go from one place to another.

    to change physical place or posture; to go from one position to another. Often used intransitively.

    Example

    Don't move while I take your photo or it will be blurry.

    Example

    The security guard noticed a shadow move behind the crates and immediately radioed for backup.
  2. 2 to change home (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to go and live in a different house or city.

    to change one's place of residence or business location.

    Example

    We are planning to move to a bigger apartment next month.

    Example

    After twenty years in the city, the family decided to move to the countryside to enjoy a slower pace of life.
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  1. 3 to affect emotions (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make someone feel a strong emotion, especially sadness or sympathy.

    to arouse strong feelings or passions, particularly tenderness, compassion, or empathy.

    Example

    The singer's beautiful performance moved many people in the audience to tears.

    Example

    The documentary about the refugee crisis moved the viewers so deeply that donations to the charity tripled overnight.
  2. 4 to propose formally (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    to suggest something officially at a meeting so that people can vote on it.

    to propose a motion formally for consideration and determination in a deliberative assembly or court.

    Example

    The lawyer moved that the trial be delayed until new evidence was found.

    Example

    The chairperson moved to adjourn the meeting, but the committee insisted on finishing the budget review first.
  3. 5 a strategic action (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    something you do to achieve a goal or follow a plan.

    an action taken to achieve a specific objective or as part of a broader strategy.

    Example

    Buying that small company was a smart move for their business.

    Example

    The CEO's decision to lower prices was a bold move designed to capture a larger share of the emerging market.
  4. 6 a turn in a game (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the act of changing the position of a piece in a game like chess.

    the act of transferring a token or piece on a gameboard according to specific rules.

    Example

    It is your move, so please decide which piece you want to play.

    Example

    He spent ten minutes contemplating his next move, eventually deciding to sacrifice his knight to protect the queen.
  5. 7 physical motion (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    a specific way of moving your body, often in dance or sports.

    a formalised or practised physical action used in athletics, dance, or combat.

    Example

    The dancer practiced the difficult move until she could do it perfectly.

    Example

    The gymnast executed a flawless move on the balance beam, earning a standing ovation from the judges.
Origin

From Middle English moven, moeven, meven, borrowed from Old Northern French mover, moveir and Old French mouver, moveir (“to move”) (compare modern French mouvoir from Old French movoir), from Latin movēre (“move; change, exchange, go in or out, quit”), from Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- (“to move, drive”). Cognate with Lithuanian mauti (“to push on, rush”), Sanskrit मीवति (mī́vati, “pushes, presses, moves”), Middle Dutch mouwe (“sleeve”). Largely displaced native English stir, from Middle English stiren, sturien, from Old English styrian.

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