motion Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
    gesture.
  2. noun a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something
    movement.
  3. noun a change of position that does not entail a change of location
    move; motility; movement.
    • the reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise
    • movement is a sign of life
    • an impatient move of his hand
    • gastrointestinal motility
  4. noun a state of change
    • they were in a state of steady motion
  5. noun a formal proposal for action made to a deliberative assembly for discussion and vote
    question.
    • he made a motion to adjourn
    • she called for the question
  6. noun the act of changing location from one place to another
    move; movement.
    • police controlled the motion of the crowd
    • the movement of people from the farms to the cities
    • his move put him directly in my path
  7. noun an optical illusion of motion produced by viewing a rapid succession of still pictures of a moving object
    apparent movement; movement; apparent motion.
    • the cinema relies on apparent motion
    • the succession of flashing lights gave an illusion of movement
  8. verb show, express or direct through movement
    gesticulate; gesture.
    • He gestured his desire to leave

WordNet

Mo"tion noun
Etymology
F., fr. L. motio, fr. movere, motum, to move. See Move.
Definitions
  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. Shak.
  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. impossible, according to the law of conservation of energy Syn. -- See Movement.
Mo"tion intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Motioned ; present participle & verbal noun Motioning
Definitions
  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 transitive verb
Definitions
  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 1913