MOTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does motion mean? 

• MOTION (noun)
  The noun MOTION has 7 senses:

1. the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

2. a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something

3. a change of position that does not entail a change of location

4. a state of change

5. a formal proposal for action made to a deliberative assembly for discussion and vote

6. the act of changing location from one place to another

7. an optical illusion of motion produced by viewing a rapid succession of still pictures of a moving object

  Familiarity information: MOTION used as a noun is common.

• MOTION (verb)
  The verb MOTION has 1 sense:

1. show, express or direct through movement

  Familiarity information: MOTION used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MOTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

gesture; motion

Hypernyms ("motion" is a kind of...):

visual communication (communication that relies on vision)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "motion"):

sign (a gesture that is part of a sign language)

gesticulation (a deliberate and vigorous gesture or motion)

beck (a beckoning gesture)

facial expression; facial gesture (a gesture executed with the facial muscles)

flourish (a showy gesture)

high-five (a gesture of greeting or elation; one person's upraised palm slaps the upraised palm of another person)

previous question (a motion calling for an immediate vote on the main question under discussion by a deliberative assembly)

shrug (a gesture involving the shoulders)

wafture; wave; waving (the act of signaling by a movement of the hand)

V sign (a sign (for victory); making a V with the index and middle fingers)

nod (a sign of assent or salutation or command)

bow; bowing; obeisance (bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting)

sign of the cross (a gesture with the right hand moving to form a cross; used by Catholics as a profession of faith)

curtsey; curtsy (bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women)

Derivation:

motion (show, express or direct through movement)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

motion; movement

Hypernyms ("motion" is a kind of...):

happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "motion"):

crustal movement; tectonic movement (movement resulting from or causing deformation of the earth's crust)

approach; approaching (the event of one object coming closer to another)

passage; passing (the motion of one object relative to another)

deflection; deflexion (the movement of the pointer or pen of a measuring instrument from its zero position)

bend; bending (movement that causes the formation of a curve)

change of location; travel (a movement through space that changes the location of something)

undulation; wave ((physics) a movement up and down or back and forth)

jitter (a small irregular movement)

periodic motion; periodic movement (motion that recurs over and over and the period of time required for each recurrence remains the same)

heave ((geology) a horizontal dislocation)

backlash; rebound; recoil; repercussion (a movement back from an impact)

kick; recoil (the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired)

seek (the movement of a read/write head to a specific data track on a disk)

squeeze; wring (a twisting squeeze)

cam stroke; stroke; throw (the maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam)

turn; turning (a movement in a new direction)

twist; wrench (a jerky pulling movement)

undulation (wavelike motion; a gentle rising and falling in the manner of waves)

moving ridge; wave (one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water))

wobble (an unsteady rocking motion)

commotion; whirl (confused movement)

Brownian motion; Brownian movement; pedesis (the random motion of small particles suspended in a gas or liquid)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A change of position that does not entail a change of location

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

motility; motion; move; movement

Context example:

gastrointestinal motility

Hypernyms ("motion" is a kind of...):

change (the action of changing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "motion"):

abduction ((physiology) moving of a body part away from the central axis of the body)

adduction ((physiology) moving of a body part toward the central axis of the body)

agitation (the act of agitating something; causing it to move around (usually vigorously))

body English (a motion of the body by a player as if to make an object already propelled go in the desired direction)

circumduction (a circular movement of a limb or eye)

disturbance (the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion)

fetal movement; foetal movement (motion of a fetus within the uterus (usually detected by the 16th week of pregnancy))

dart; flit (a sudden quick movement)

gesture (motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling)

headshake; headshaking (the act of turning your head left and right to signify denial or disbelief or bemusement)

inclination; inclining (the act of inclining; bending forward)

eversion; everting; inversion (the act of turning inside out)

inversion; upending (turning upside down; setting on end)

jerk; jerking; jolt; saccade (an abrupt spasmodic movement)

kick; kicking (a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics)

kneel; kneeling (supporting yourself on your knees)

lurch; pitch; pitching (abrupt up-and-down motion (as caused by a ship or other conveyance))

eye movement (the movement of the eyes)

opening (the act of opening something)

prostration (the act of assuming a prostrate position)

reach; reaching; stretch (the act of physically reaching or thrusting out)

reciprocation (alternating back-and-forth movement)

reclining (the act of assuming or maintaining a reclining position)

retraction (the act of pulling or holding or drawing a part back)

retroflection; retroflexion (the act of bending backward)

rotary motion; rotation (the act of rotating as if on an axis)

closing; shutting (the act of closing something)

sitting (the act of assuming or maintaining a seated position)

posing; sitting ((photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait))

snap (the act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand)

squat; squatting (the act of assuming or maintaining a crouching position with the knees bent and the buttocks near the heels)

sweep (a movement in an arc)

toss (an abrupt movement)

quiver; quivering; vibration (the act of vibrating)

wave (a movement like that of a sudden occurrence or increase in a specified phenomenon)

flicker; flutter; waver (the act of moving back and forth)

standing (the act of assuming or maintaining an erect upright position)

span; straddle (the act of sitting or standing astride)

stroke (a single complete movement)

squirm; wiggle; wriggle (the act of wiggling)

eurhythmics; eurhythmy; eurythmics; eurythmy (the interpretation in harmonious bodily movements of the rhythm of musical compositions; used to teach musical understanding)

Derivation:

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A state of change

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

they were in a state of steady motion

Hypernyms ("motion" is a kind of...):

state (the way something is with respect to its main attributes)

Attribute:

moving (in motion)

nonmoving; unmoving (not in motion)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "motion"):

palpitation; quiver; quivering; shakiness; shaking; trembling; vibration (a shaky motion)

perpetual motion (motion that continues indefinitely without any external source of energy; impossible in practice because of friction)

precession (the motion of a spinning body (as a top) in which it wobbles so that the axis of rotation sweeps out a cone)

flow; stream (something that resembles a flowing stream in moving continuously)

Antonym:

motionlessness (a state of no motion or movement)

Derivation:

move (be in a state of action)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A formal proposal for action made to a deliberative assembly for discussion and vote

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

motion; question

Context example:

she called for the question

Hypernyms ("motion" is a kind of...):

proposal (something proposed (such as a plan or assumption))

Sense 6

Meaning:

The act of changing location from one place to another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

motion; move; movement

Context example:

his move put him directly in my path

Hypernyms ("motion" is a kind of...):

change (the action of changing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "motion"):

approach; approaching; coming (the act of drawing spatially closer to something)

advance; advancement; forward motion; onward motion; procession; progress; progression (the act of moving forward (as toward a goal))

locomotion; travel (self-propelled movement)

lunge; lurch (the act of moving forward suddenly)

travel; traveling; travelling (the act of going from one place to another)

chase; following; pursual; pursuit (the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture)

ascending; ascension; ascent; rise (the act of changing location in an upward direction)

descent (the act of changing your location in a downward direction)

swing; swinging; vacillation (changing location by moving back and forth)

return (the act of going back to a prior location)

coast; glide; slide (the act of moving smoothly along a surface while remaining in contact with it)

slippage (failing to hold or slipping out of place)

flow; stream (the act of flowing or streaming; continuous progression)

crawl (a very slow movement)

hurrying; speed; speeding (changing location rapidly)

displacement; translation (the act of uniform movement)

shift; shifting (the act of moving from one place to another)

haste; hurry; rush; rushing (the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner)

maneuver; manoeuvre; play (a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill)

migration (the movement of persons from one country or locality to another)

Derivation:

motional (of or relating to or characterized by motion)

move (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Sense 7

Meaning:

An optical illusion of motion produced by viewing a rapid succession of still pictures of a moving object

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

apparent motion; apparent movement; motion; movement

Context example:

the succession of flashing lights gave an illusion of movement

Hypernyms ("motion" is a kind of...):

optical illusion (an optical phenomenon that results in a false or deceptive visual impression)

• MOTION (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Show, express or direct through movement

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

gesticulate; gesture; motion

Context example:

He gestured his desire to leave

Hypernyms (to "motion" is one way to...):

communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "motion"):

wink (signal by winking)

exsert; extend; hold out; put out; stretch forth; stretch out (thrust or extend out)

shrug (raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation)

clap; spat (clap one's hands together)

acclaim; applaud; clap; spat (clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval)

bless; sign (make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate)

nod (express or signify by nodding)

cross oneself (make the sign of the cross; in the Catholic religion)

bow; bow down (bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head)

shake (shake (a body part) to communicate a greeting, feeling, or cognitive state)

beckon; wave (signal with the hands or nod)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s to somebody

Derivation:

motion (the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals)

 Context examples 

I am restless, and shall be better in motion.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

They all sat down in a circle about me, the better to observe my motions.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

It is also used to treat mild Parkinson disease, to prevent and treat motion sickness, to relieve cough and cold symptoms, and as a sleep aid.

(Diphenhydramine, NCI Dictionary)

There was a chair just under the lamp, and the elderly man motioned that I should sit in it.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Once the flame appeared so near the road, that even in the darkness around us I could watch the driver's motions.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A rod designed to transmit motion between moving parts.

(Connecting Rod Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

Device problems caused by the constant rhythmic motion of the device, a device's component, or something in the environment to which the device is exposed.

(Device Vibration Problem Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)

A pain management technique based on improvement of functional ability, strengthening, and maintenance of range of motion.

(Exercise Pain Management, NCI Thesaurus)

"Elimination of waste motion," Martin phrased it as he watched and patterned after.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But as I turned to go I noted that his head had resumed its rocking motion.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)