Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Motion

Mo′tion

,
Noun.
[F., fr. L.
motio
, fr.
movere
,
motum
, to move. See
Move
.]
1.
The act, process, or state of changing place or position; movement; the passing of a body from one place or position to another, whether voluntary or involuntary; – opposed to
rest
.
Speaking or mute, all comeliness and grace
attends thee, and each word, each
motion
, forms.
Milton.
2.
Power of, or capacity for, motion.
Devoid of sense and
motion
.
Milton.
3.
Direction of movement; course; tendency;
as, the
motion
of the planets is from west to east
.
In our proper
motion
we ascend.
Milton.
4.
Change in the relative position of the parts of anything; action of a machine with respect to the relative movement of its parts.
This is the great wheel to which the clock owes its
motion
.
Dr. H. More.
5.
Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity.
Let a good man obey every good
motion
rising in his heart, knowing that every such
motion
proceeds from God.
South.
6.
A proposal or suggestion looking to action or progress; esp., a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly;
as, a
motion
to adjourn
.
Yes, I agree, and thank you for your
motion
.
Shakespeare
7.
(Law)
An application made to a court or judge orally in open court. Its object is to obtain an order or rule directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant.
Mozley & W.
8.
(Mus.)
Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same part or in groups of parts.
The independent
motions
of different parts sounding together constitute counterpoint.
Grove.
☞ Conjunct motion is that by single degrees of the scale. Contrary motion is that when parts move in opposite directions. Disjunct motion is motion by skips. Oblique motion is that when one part is stationary while another moves. Similar or direct motion is that when parts move in the same direction.
9.
A puppet show or puppet.
[Obs.]
What
motion
’s this? the model of Nineveh?
Beau. & Fl.
☞ Motion, in mechanics, may be simple or compound.
Simple motions
are: (
a
) straight translation, which, if of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating. (
b
) Simple rotation, which may be either continuous or reciprocating, and when reciprocating is called oscillating. (
c
) Helical, which, if of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating.
Compound motion
consists of combinations of any of the simple motions.
Syn. – See
Movement
.

Mo′tion

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Motioned
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Motioning
.]
1.
To make a significant movement or gesture, as with the hand;
as, to
motion
to one to take a seat
.
2.
To make proposal; to offer plans.
[Obs.]
Shak.

Mo′tion

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To direct or invite by a motion, as of the hand or head;
as, to
motion
one to a seat
.
2.
To propose; to move.
[Obs.]
I want friends to
motion
such a matter.
Burton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Motion

MO'TION

,
Noun.
[L. motio. See Move.] The act or process of changing place; change of local position; the passing of a body from one place to another; change of distance between bodies; opposed to rest.
Animal motion is that which is performed by animals in consequence of volition or an act of the will; but how the will operates on the body in producing motion, we cannot explain.
Mechanical motion is effected by the force or power of one body acting on another.
Perpetual motion is that which is effected or supplied by itself, without the impulse or intervention of any external cause. Hitherto it has been found impossible to invent a machine that has this principle.
1.
Animal life and action.
Devoid of sense and motion.
2.
Manner of moving the body; port; gait; air.
Each member move and every motion guide.
3.
Change of posture; action.
Watching the motion of her patron's eye.
4.
Military march or movement.
5.
Agitation; as the motions of the sea.
6.
Internal action; excitement; as the motions of the breast.
7.
Direction; tendency.
In our proper motion we ascend.
8.
The effect of impulse; action proceeding from any cause, external or internal. In the growth of plants and animals, there must be a motion of the component parts, though invisible. Attraction or chimical affinity produces sensible motion of the parts of bodies. Motions of the mind ascribed to the invisible agency of the Supreme Being, are called good motions.
Let a good man obey every good motion rising in his heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from God.
9.
Proposal made; proposition offered; particularly, a proposition made in a deliberative assembly. A motion is made for a committee; a motion for introducing a bill; a motion to adjourn.
10. A puppet-show or puppet. [Not used.]

MO'TION

,
Verb.
T.
To propose. [Little used. See Move.]

Definition 2024

motion

motion

English

Noun

motion ‎(countable and uncountable, plural motions)

  1. (uncountable) A state of progression from one place to another.
  2. (countable) A change of position with respect to time.
    • Dr. H. More
      This is the great wheel to which the clock owes its motion.
  3. (physics) A change from one place to another.
    • 1839, Denison Olmsted, A Compendium of Astronomy Page 95
      Secondly, When a body is once in motion it will continue to move forever, unless something stops it. When a ball is struck on the surface of the earth, the friction of the earth and the resistance of the air soon stop its motion.
  4. (countable) A parliamentary action to propose something.
    The motion to amend is now open for discussion.
    • Shakespeare
      Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion.
  5. (obsolete) An entertainment or show, especially a puppet show.
    • 1644, John Milton, Aeropagitica:
      when God gave him reason, he gave him freedom to choose, for reason is but choosing; he had bin else a meer artificiall Adam, such an Adam as he is in the motions.
  6. (philosophy) from κίνησις; any change. Traditionally of four types: generation and corruption, alteration, augmentation and diminution, and change of place.
    • 1662, Henry More, An Antidote Against Atheism, Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 53:
      "I say, it is no uneven jot, to pass from the more faint and obscure examples of Spermatical life to the more considerable effects of general Motion in Minerals, Metalls, and sundry Meteors, whose easie and rude shapes may have no need of any Principle of Life, or Spermatical form distinct from the Rest or Motion of the particles of the Matter."
  7. Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity.
    • South
      Let a good man obey every good motion rising in his heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from God.
  8. (law) An application made to a court or judge orally in open court. Its object is to obtain an order or rule directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Mozley & W. to this entry?)
  9. (euphemistic) A movement of the bowels; the product of such movement.
    • 1857, William Braithwaite, The Retrospect of Medicine
      From that time to the present (three weeks) she has taken one pill every night, and had one comfortable motion every morning without the aid of any other aperient, and her health has much improved.
  10. (music) Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same part or in groups of parts. (Conjunct motion is that by single degrees of the scale. Contrary motion is when parts move in opposite directions. Disjunct motion is motion by skips. Oblique motion is when one part is stationary while another moves. Similar or direct motion is when parts move in the same direction.)
    • Grove
      The independent motions of different parts sounding together constitute counterpoint.
  11. (obsolete) A puppet, or puppet show.
    • Beaumont and Fletcher
      What motion's this? the model of Nineveh?

Synonyms

  • (state of progression from one place to another): movement

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

motion ‎(third-person singular simple present motions, present participle motioning, simple past and past participle motioned)

  1. To gesture indicating a desired movement.
    He motioned for me to come closer.
  2. (proscribed) To introduce a motion in parliamentary procedure.
  3. To make a proposal; to offer plans.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

Usage notes

The parliamentary sense is incorrectly used by people who are not familiar with parliamentary procedure. They might say "I motion that such-and-such"—however, it would be correct to say "I move that such-and-such".

Related terms

Danish

Etymology

Borrowing from French motion, from Latin mōtio ‎(“movement”), from movēre ‎(“to move”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /mosjoːn/, [moˈɕoːˀn]

Noun

motion c (singular definite motionen, not used in plural form)

  1. exercise (physical activity intended to improve strength and fitness)

External links

French

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin motiō, motiōnem, noun of action from perfect passive participle motus ‎(“having been moved”), from verb movere ‎(“move”), + noun of action suffix -io.

Pronunciation

Noun

motion f ‎(plural motions)

  1. motion (4)
    Il s'agit d'une motion de censure.‎ ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Related terms

Norman

Etymology

From Old French motion, mocion, from Latin mōtio ‎(“movement, motion”).

Noun

motion f ‎(plural motions)

  1. (Jersey) motion

Swedish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /mɔtˈɧuːn/

Noun

motion c

  1. exercise (physical activity)
  2. a motion[1] (proposal from a member of parliament)

Declension

Inflection of motion 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative motion motionen motioner motionerna
Genitive motions motionens motioners motionernas

Related terms

  • motionär
  • motionsidrott
  • motionsrunda

References

  1. ↑ Government terms, Government Offices of Sweden

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman motion, mocion, Middle French motion, and their source, Latin motio ‎(“movement, motion”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈməʊʃən/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈmoʊʃən/
  • Rhymes: -əʊʃən

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