wave: Steve stopped him with a wave of the hand.
signaclass="underline" As soon as it was dark, Mrs Evans gave the signal.
mo|tion|less /moʊ ʃ ə nləs/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone or something that is motionless is not moving at all. □ He stood there motionless.
mo |tion pic|ture (motion pictures ) N‑COUNT A motion picture is a film made for cinema. [mainly AM ] □ It was there that I saw my first motion picture.
mo|ti|vate ◆◇◇ /moʊ t I ve I t/ (motivates , motivating , motivated )
1 VERB If you are motivated by something, especially an emotion, it causes you to behave in a particular way. □ [be V -ed] They are motivated by a need to achieve. □ [V n to-inf] I don't want to be missing out. And that motivates me to get up and do something every day. [Also V n] ● mo|ti|vat|ed ADJ □ …highly motivated employees. ● mo|ti|va|tion /moʊ t I ve I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ His poor performance may be attributed to lack of motivation.
2 VERB If someone motivates you to do something, they make you feel determined to do it. □ [V n to-inf] How do you motivate people to work hard and efficiently? □ [V n] Never let it be said that the manager doesn't know how to motivate his players. ● mo|ti|va|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ Gross's skill in motivation looked in doubt when his side began the second half badly.
mo|ti|va|tion /moʊ t I ve I ʃ ə n/ (motivations ) N‑COUNT [usu with poss] Your motivation for doing something is what causes you to want to do it. □ Money is my motivation. □ The timing of the attack, and its motivations, are unknown.
mo|tive /moʊ t I v/ (motives ) N‑COUNT Your motive for doing something is your reason for doing it. □ [+ for ] Police have ruled out robbery as a motive for the killing. □ …the motives and objectives of British foreign policy.
mot|ley /mɒ tli/ ADJ [ADJ n] You can describe a group of things as a motley collection if you think they seem strange together because they are all very different. □ …a motley collection of vans, old buses, cattle-trucks, and even a fire engine.
mo|tor ◆◆◇ /moʊ tə r / (motors )
1 N‑COUNT The motor in a machine, vehicle, or boat is the part that uses electricity or fuel to produce movement, so that the machine, vehicle, or boat can work. □ She got in and started the motor.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Motor vehicles and boats have a petrol or diesel engine. □ Theft of motor vehicles is up by 15.9%.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Motor is used to describe activities relating to vehicles such as cars and buses. [mainly BRIT ] □ …the future of the British motor industry. □ He worked as a motor mechanic. in AM, usually use automotive , automobile 4 N‑COUNT Some people refer to a car as a motor . [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
5 → see also motoring , outboard
motor|bike /moʊ tə r ba I k/ (motorbikes ) also motor-bike
1 N‑COUNT A motorbike is the same as a motorcycle . [BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT A motorbike is a lighter, less powerful motorcycle. [AM ]
motor|boat /moʊ tə r boʊt/ (motorboats ) also motor boat N‑COUNT A motorboat is a boat that is driven by an engine.
motor|cade /moʊ tə r ke I d/ (motorcades ) N‑COUNT A motorcade is a line of slow-moving cars carrying important people, usually as part of a public ceremony. □ At times the president's motorcade slowed to a crawl.
mo |tor car (motor cars ) also motorcar N‑COUNT A motor car is the same as a car . [OLD-FASHIONED ]
motor|cycle /moʊ tə r sa I k ə l/ (motorcycles ) N‑COUNT A motorcycle is a vehicle with two wheels and an engine.
motor|cyclist /moʊ tə r sa I kl I st/ (motorcyclists ) N‑COUNT A motorcyclist is a person who rides a motorcycle.
mo |tor home (motor homes ) N‑COUNT A motor home is a large vehicle containing beds and equipment for cooking and washing. Motor homes can be used for holidays or very long journeys.
mo|tor|ing /moʊ tər I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] Motoring means relating to cars and driving. [mainly BRIT ] □ …a three-month sentence for motoring offences. □ Police and motoring organizations said the roads were slightly busier than normal. in AM, usually use driving , automobile
mo|tor|ised /moʊ təra I zd/ → see motorized
mo|tor|ist /moʊ tər I st/ (motorists ) N‑COUNT A motorist is a person who drives a car. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use driver
mo|tor|ized /moʊ təra I zd/ in BRIT, also use motorised 1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A motorized vehicle has an engine. □ Around 1910, motorized carriages were beginning to replace horse-drawn cabs.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A motorized group of soldiers is equipped with motor vehicles. □ …motorized infantry and artillery.
motor|mouth /moʊ tə r maʊθ/ N‑SING If you describe someone as a motormouth , you mean that they talk a lot, especially in a loud or aggressive way. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
mo |tor neu |rone dis|ease N‑UNCOUNT Motor neurone disease is a disease which destroys the part of a person's nervous system that controls movement.
motor|way /moʊ tə r we I / (motorways ) N‑VAR A motorway is a major road that has been specially built for fast travel over long distances. Motorways have several lanes and special places where traffic gets on and leaves. [BRIT ] □ …the M1 motorway. □ …the national motorway network. in AM, usually use freeway