Motion
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈməʊʃən/
- US IPA: /ˈmoʊʃən/
- Rhymes: -əʊʃən
Origin
From Anglo-Norman motion, mocion, Middle French motion, and their source, Latin motio ("movement, motion").
Full definition of motion
Noun
motion
(countable and uncountable; plural motions)- (uncountable) A state of progression from one place to another.
- (countable) A change of position with respect to time.
- Dr. H. MoreThis is the great wheel to which the clock owes its motion.
- (physics) A change from one place to another.
- 1839, Denison Olmsted, A Compendium of Astronomy Page 95Secondly, 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.
- (countable) A parliamentary action to propose something.The motion to amend is now open for discussion.
- ShakespeareYes, I agree, and thank you for your motion.
- (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.
- (philosophy) from κίνησις; any change. Traditionally of four types: generation and corruption, alteration, augmentation and diminution, and change of place.
- 1662, Henry More, , 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."
- Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity.
- SouthLet a good man obey every good motion rising in his heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from God.
- (legal) 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.
- (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.)
- GroveThe independent motions of different parts sounding together constitute counterpoint.
- (obsolete) A puppet, or puppet show.
- Beaumont and FletcherWhat motion's this? the model of Nineveh?
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb
- To gesture indicating a desired movement.He motioned for me to come closer.
- (proscribed) To introduce a motion in parliamentary procedure.
- To make a proposal; to offer plans.
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".