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n. 1. The act or process of changing position or place. 2. A meaningful or expressive change in the position of the body or a part of the body; a gesture. 3. Active operation: set the plan in motion. 4. The ability or power to move: lost motion in his arm. 5. The manner in which the body moves, as in walking. 6. A prompting from within; an impulse or inclination: resigned of her own motion. 7. Music Melodic ascent and descent of pitch. 8. Law An application made to a court for an order or a ruling. 9. A formal proposal put to the vote under parliamentary procedures. 10. a. A mechanical device or piece of machinery that moves or causes motion; a mechanism. b. The movement or action of such a device. v. mo·tioned, mo·tion·ing, mo·tions v.tr. 1. To direct by making a gesture: motioned us to our seats. 2. To indicate by making a gesture; signal: motioned that he was ready. 3. To make a motion (that something should happen). v.intr. Idiom: To signal by making a gesture: motioned to her to enter. go through the motions To do something in a mechanical manner indicative of a lack of interest or involvement. [Middle English mocioun, from Old French motion, from Latin mōtiō, mōtiōn-, from mōtus, past participle of movēre, to move; see meuə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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