motion1 nounmotion2 verb
motionmo‧tion1 /ˈməʊʃən $ ˈmoʊ-/ ●●○ W3 noun 
WORD ORIGINmotion1
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French, Latin motio ‘movement’, from movere; ➔ MOVE1EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a smooth throwing motion
- For any exercise with a bending motion, the knees must be slightly bent.
- the gentle rolling motion of the ship
- All motion is of course relative.
- Geometry, then, is concerned with the production of figures by various motions.
- I look forward to smoother graphs of pendulum motion!
- Immediately after the motion was read on the floor, it was tabled by a near-party line vote.
- It takes a day at least for me to become accustomed to the motion of the ship.
- Its motion can be detected - for example, by deflecting a laser beam that bounces off a mirror attached to the needle.
- Older men and women are running motion offense drills, practicing low post moves.
- Slow at first, the motion gathered speed until it was too dazzling for the eye to follow.
Longman Language Activatormoving
not staying still, but changing position or going from one place to another: moving car/truck/vehicle etc: · The authorities believe the body was thrown from a moving vehicle.moving part: · All the moving parts of the engine must be kept well-oiled.
especially written if something, especially a vehicle or machine, is in motion , it is moving from one place or position to another: · Do not distract the driver while the vehicle is in motion.
to make something start happening to make something start happening: · The police have already started an investigation.· The referee couldn't start the game because there were fans on the field.· A 'safe neighbourhood' campaign has been started by local residents.
: launch an attack/appeal/inquiry etc to start a public or military activity, when there is a clear aim that you want to achieve: · Rebel forces launched an attack on the capital.· Police are launching a major murder inquiry.· The local hospital has launched a campaign to raise money for new X-ray equipment.
: open an investigation/inquiry to start an official process of gathering information about a particular problem, in order to find out what caused it or to find a solution: · Police have opened an investigation into the girl's disappearance.· The Football Association are to open an inquiry into recent crowd trouble.
formal to start something such as an official process or discussion about something important: · Peace talks have been initiated in an attempt to avert full scale war.· The couple plan to initiate legal proceedings against the police.
to make something happen, especially something serious, difficult, or important: · The murder sparked off a wave of protests in the city.· Recent freak weather conditions have sparked off renewed fears about the effects of global warming.
also set into motion American to start a process or series of events that will continue for a long time even if you take no further action: · A few months later the divorce procedure was set in motion.· The government had already set into motion a series of reforms.· Wait's actions had set in motion a chain of events that would eventually result in his dismissal.
informal to start a meeting, discussion, event etc by doing something in order to encourage other people to take part in it as well: · Mark stood up and asked the first question to get the ball rolling.· To start the ball rolling, the government was asked to contribute £50,000 to the new charity.
to make a process start by doing or arranging the first part of it, after which it will become easier: · Change is certainly needed and the new headteacher needs to get things moving quickly.· Once we got things moving, the deal went through very quickly.
spoken use this to say that you now want to start something that you have been planning: · Are you all packed and ready? Right, let's get this show on the road.· We're having another meeting next week, hopefully to really get this show on the road.
WORD SETSabstain, verbabstention, nounadopt, verbballot, nounballot box, nounballot paper, nounblackball, verbby-election, nouncasting vote, nouncloture, nounconstituency, nounconstituent, noundeliver, verbdeposit, noundeselect, verbdisenfranchise, verbdisfranchise, verbdivision, noundoorstep, verbdream ticket, nounelect, verbelection, nounelectioneering, nounelective, adjectiveelector, nounelectoral, adjectiveelectoral register, nounelectorate, nounenfranchise, verbexit poll, nounfloating voter, nounfranchise, noungeneral election, nounhung parliament, nounlobby, nounmajority, nounmotion, nounno, nounoff-year, nounopen primary, nounoutvote, verboverall majority, nounplebiscite, nounplurality, nounpocket veto, nounpoint of order, nounpoll, nounpolling, nounpolling booth, nounpolling day, nounpolling station, nounpollster, nounPR, nounprimary, nounprimary election, nounproportional representation, nounpsephology, nounrecount, nounre-elect, verbreferendum, nounresolution, nounresolve, verbreturn, verbreturning officer, nounrig, verbrun, verbrun-off, nounscrutineer, nounshow of hands, nounslate, nounsplit ticket, nounspoil, verbsponsor, nounsponsor, verbstalking horse, nounstraight ticket, nounstraw poll, nounstronghold, nounsuffrage, nountactical voting, nounteller, nounthree-line whip, nounvote, verbvote of censure, nounvote of confidence, nounvote of no confidence, nounvoter, nounvoting machine, nounward, nounwrite-in, nounX, nounyea, nounyes, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Doyle glanced back at Bodie, and made a slight motion with his head. The motion was defeated by 201 votes to 159. I urge you to support this motion. The motion was seconded (=formally supported) by Mr Levin. The attorneys filed a motion (=made a proposal in a court) for a temporary restraining order. Once the house had been sold, Jane set the wheels in motion (=started the process) to find somewhere smaller to live.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The resolution was proposed by the chairman of the International Committee.
Doyle glanced back at Bodie, and made a slight motion with his head. The motion was defeated by 201 votes to 159. (=accept it by voting) The motion was carried unanimously.
The motion was carried unanimously. I urge you to support this motion. (=make a proposal) I’d like to propose a motion to move the weekly meetings to Thursdays.
I’d like to propose a motion to move the weekly meetings to Thursdays. The motion was seconded (=formally supported) by Mr Levin. The attorneys filed a motion (=made a proposal in a court) for a temporary restraining order. Once the house had been sold, Jane set the wheels in motion (=started the process) to find somewhere smaller to live. The resolution was proposed by the chairman of the International Committee. (=sickness that some people get while travelling)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· When considering circular motion it is often easier to work in terms of the angular velocity rather than ordinary linear velocity.· In fact, each individual drop of water is describing a circular motion which takes it nowhere overall.· Why then does the sun appear to set and to have a circular motion around the Earth?· It lacks the qualities associated with the perfection of the celestial sphere: circular motion, elemental purity, immutability.· He made a circular motion with closed fingers.· Thus the poem has a circular motion corresponding to the circular shape of the object it describes.· Knead the fondant or marzipan thoroughly, using a circular motion to spread the colour evenly.· With shoes off, make a circular motion with the feet to the count of 10, Levi suggested.
· The particles in a liquid, like those in a gas, are in a state of constant motion.· The constant motion of the crowds continued to stir the dust.· Though the movements are gentle and slow, each part of the body is in constant motion.· One man said his feet and eyes were in constant motion.· Leaves and small twigs in constant motion.· Loose eggs will hatch if vigorous aeration keeps them in constant motion.
· The melodious sound and the forward motion ceased, and he was floating in a hazy limbo of silence, listening intently.· The train staggers into forward motion, then settles into a slow, heavy glide of about five miles per hour.
· In the case of full motion video, the need for very fast information retrieval is acute.· Is full frame, full motion video really important?· First, is between 12 and 15 frames per second full motion?· This is the rate of data transfer needed to produce television quality video in full motion on a full screen.· Using this process, full motion, full frame video can be delivered together with the full range of other media types.· It can not deliver full frame, full motion video although this may be available in later models.
· The brash internet entrepreneurs of a year ago seemed to think they had discovered the financial equivalent of perpetual motion.· Then, my dear Summerlee, it is that most wonderful of devices: a perpetual motion machine!· It was in perpetual motion up to and including the moment they all sat in each other's seats.· The cyclical exchange of payments for factors of production and payments for final goods becomes a perpetual motion machine.· Within the Boundless, which is in perpetual motion, worlds, including our world, come into being and pass away.· Earthquakes line the borders of the tectonic plates and are symptoms of the perpetual motion inside our planet.· I can only trace them in their perpetual slow motion upward.· And you were accusing me of being a perpetual motion merchant.
· Do the postures continuously, in graceful slow motion with each exercise leading into the next.· There also were beetles crawling on the ice in slow motion.· As he neared me his steps became more deliberate until he was in slow motion.· Everything seemed to proceed in slow motion.· The ball continues its slow but dogged motion, brakes at a patch of dust, trickles on, and mockingly drops.· He ate his tiny ration of cereal in mournful slow motion, to illustrate his unhappiness.· Most would agree, with hindsight, that everything seemed to happen in slow motion, during and after the murder.· He felt as if everyone else, the whole street, the whole afternoon, went into slow motion.
NOUN· His concern was justified when the no confidence motion was defeated by only 447 votes to 412.· Defeat on a confidence motion would prompt an early general election.· He remains Prime Minister until he chooses to resign or is defeated on a confidence motion in the House.· Later on Nov. 23 the no confidence motion was defeated by 201 votes to 159, with six abstentions.· Kohl, like Brandt in 1972, engineered the vote by deliberately losing a confidence motion in the Bundestag.
· Three guillotine motions were tabled for discussion of the Bill that became the Education Reform Act 1988.· A guillotine motion was carried and, after amendment, the bills were accepted.· Mr. Foot Hon. Members will not be able to have a proper debate on a guillotine motion without me.· If this guillotine motion goes through, what do I do about the thousand or so letters that I have downstairs?· Before the guillotine motion, the longest speech in those proceedings was by the then Minister of State.· It is shocking that a guillotine motion should be produced in such circumstances.· There is no doubt about it - he knows perfectly well the reason why he is introducing this guillotine motion.· Not only are guillotine motions being introduced with phenomenal frequency; they are being introduced at a very early stage.
· What had to be done was that motion pictures had to be made respectable.· Those who invest with him get the motion picture -- meaning his ongoing judgment, including when to sell.· Meanwhile I was developing a liking for the motion picture business with Miss Hellen Semmens as a central point of interest.· As per above, but for motion pictures.· On a motion picture I have a team of anywhere from one hundred to two hundred people.· Creativity is required, then, for the banker as well as the motion picture director.· The revolution began with the invention of motion picture film early in the twentieth century.· She became adept at filming with a motion picture camera as well as still camera.
· They were useful for treating allergic disorders and also as sedatives and remedies for motion sickness.· By manipulating how the virtual scene moves with your body movements, we may be able to help people with motion sickness.· We are investigating the possibility that motion sickness may be a factor in the unpleasantness of transportation.· They were able to read without the usual motion sickness they frequently get riding in a car.· In fact, some players report motion sickness.
· In the case of full motion video, the need for very fast information retrieval is acute.· As far as motion video, in particular, is concerned, the constraints of available technology force multimedia into a seemingly impossible situation.· Full motion video is not quite within the reach of us mortals, despite the protestations of the add men.· Multimedia Presentation Manager/2 is included and adds enhanced audio, basic image and software motion video playback capabilities.· Is full frame, full motion video really important?· Now let us look at television information and gain some sense of the amount of data needed to represent motion video.· They claim that the dial up approach cuts the cost of two-way motion video by up to 90 percent.· It can not deliver full frame, full motion video although this may be available in later models.
VERB· We owe them that and I think that the House should approve the guillotine motion.
· The University Labour Federation failed to carry its motion to reject the report.· He carried his motion by 44 votes to 1.
· Eloquence alone was sufficient to defeat the motion.· I do not know if Nico is looking for more time, or trying to defeat the motion.· He remains Prime Minister until he chooses to resign or is defeated on a confidence motion in the House.· Earlier yesterday the government had defeated an opposition censure motion in the lower house of parliament.
· Gen Jaruzelski's defence lawyers first filed a motion requesting more evidence from prosecutors before charges were laid.· So far this year, it has filed two motions for injunctions against a planned federal inquest on sects and cults.· When Acevedo refused to provide names, the city filed a motion to terminate her workers' compensation benefits.· The law requires courts to hold up most discovery proceedings until companies can file a motion to dismiss a suit.
· Still others go through the motions but without any real desire to improve the relationship.· We fool ourselves by thinking we can go on automatic pilot, that we can survive by going through the motions.· The choice that is left is to go through the motions either with counterfeit conviction, or with subversion and disdain.· I could see the rounds hitting the water close to me, and everything went in slow motion.· The next moment Mrs Taxos gave a mighty yell and slapped the donkey's rump and they went into motion.· They begin to go through motions of dancing, holding on to the steel poles that support the ceiling, jerking mechanically.· But even they seemed to be going through the motions, quite without conviction.· He felt as if everyone else, the whole street, the whole afternoon, went into slow motion.
· I therefore move the motion with a glass of privatised water ready to hand.· When he moves, his motions appear uncontrived.· The characters in the bar seemed to be moving with slow jarring motions.· That has continually happened when other hon. Members have sought to move the carry-over motion.· He was moving in slow motion when Jimmy let off a sudden burst that sent chunks of sidewalk flying everywhere.
· Bowel training showed less social class difference possibly because there are clearer anticipating signs of passing a motion.· He passes quickly on our motions for production.· At that time there was a widespread practice of holding the child over a newspaper for passing a motion.· After hearing from about a dozen pissed-off citizens, they passed the motion 3-0.· Later the child is encouraged to pass motions while in the bathroom or lavatory.· Once this is well established the sticker is only awarded for passing a motion into the lavatory.· Luke, a 4-year-old boy, would sit on his heels in order not to pass a motion.· He refused to pass motions in the toilet and had phases of extreme stomach-ache and lethargy due to his extreme constipation.
· In March 1922 Steel-Maitland proposed a strong motion of confidence in Younger that was a clear rebuke to his critics.· It would be a formality for a representative of the Assembly to ask the Archon to propose the opening motion.
· I shower in lukewarm water and decide on thick white running shorts and matching top which I put on in slow motion.· The President would lose the right to put down a motion for the government's dismissal.· In July and August the process of selling the 99 separate state-owned forests was put in motion.· There was no desperate urgency, I said, but wheels should be put in motion.· Coun Peter Jones has put forward a special motion to the next full council meeting on March 26.· Mr Trimble's opponents within unionism say they will put forward a motion to exclude Sinn Fein from government.
· He sat down to applause and was followed by H B Beale from Gloucestershire who seconded the motion.
· The programme had lost the man responsible for setting it in motion.· A weight suspended on the end of a piece of string and then set in motion acts as a pendulum.· Once set in motion this requires only the periodic visit to negotiate such matters as price changes.· Life should do more than spin on like an idiotic top some one had set in motion but could no longer stop.· The wheels have already been set in motion.· In any case, an irresponsible control program has been set in motion without sufficient information as to its future effects.· When the glass was touched, the mechanism was set in motion.
· I did not support the timetable motion and believe that my decision was right.· He could not support the motion in its entirety.· Unions supporting the motion included the transport workers, shop workers and public employees.· I hope that the House will support the motion.· We must have the proposals in it, so I hope that all my hon. Friends will support the motion.· There is no way that I will support the guillotine motion.
· Mr. Renton I know that the hon. Gentleman tabled an early-day motion on the subject a short time ago.· The move came after a vote by regents indefinitely tabling a motion to rescind their July 20 vote revising admissions policies.
· They wanted them to vote against a motion to ban hunting on all county council owned land.· I will be voting for the motion.· And he carried that Conservative generation to vote a motion which preferred Liberalism to Conservatism as the better future for the country.· Many councillors said they felt compelled to vote against the motion because they believed in the tenant farmers freedom of choice.· Many Opposition Members who will obey the three-line Whip and vote against the motion will do so with a heavy heart.· I was not shown as voting for the Government motion in Division 15.· The players are sure to vote in favour of the motion to play for the honour and not the cash.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► vote of no-confidence/no-confidence vote/motion of no-confidence etc► put down a motion/an amendment► set the wheels in motion/set the wheels turning
1movement [uncountable] the process of moving or the way that someone or something movesmotion of- a photograph of a frog in motion
- The discovery set in motion two days of searching for the bodies.
- A tiny pilot light, if you like, that was necessary to set everything else in motion.
- Corot set the countryside in motion.
- He has set the ball in motion.
- How easy to see how a white kid could set this in motion with hardly any effort.
- It is both wasteful and irresponsible to set experiments in motion and omit to record and analyse what happens.
- Oliver corrected the clock and set it in motion.
- On Jan. 13, Vega said, Guzman set his plot in motion.
- The programme had lost the man responsible for setting it in motion.
- But the picking up strikes a chord and going through the motions always works.
- Everybody said the right thing; everybody went through the motions the way they should.
- Still others go through the motions but without any real desire to improve the relationship.
- The authorities occasionally go through the motions of clamping down.
- To Harry, Jack looked like a man going through the motions.
- Too many students are going through the motions without any significant engagement in learning.
- We just give up and go through the motions and we let our negativity harden inside us.
- You can go through the motions.
- Baldwin tabled proposals which involved payments of £34 million a year.
- Even our own wets will summon up the courage to table a question or two.
- He has tabled a question on the issue for tomorrow's council meeting.
- If the hon. Gentleman wants to table a question or write to me, I shall be glad to enlarge upon that.
- The move came after a vote by regents indefinitely tabling a motion to rescind their July 20 vote revising admissions policies.
- The Umpires' Association had planned to table a motion giving an official vote of support for Lamb.
the motion of the planets The rocking motion of the boat made Sylvia feel sick. Newton’s first law of motion2moving your head or hand [countable] a single movement of your head or hand, especially one made in order to communicate something SYN gesturemotion of He summoned the waiter with a motion of his hand. Doyle glanced back at Bodie, and made a slight motion with his head.3suggestion at a meeting [countable] a proposal that is made formally at a meeting, and then is usually decided on by voting: The motion was defeated by 201 votes to 159.motion to do something/motion that We will now vote on the motion that membership charges should rise by 15%.pass/carry/approve a motion (=accept it by voting) The motion was carried unanimously. I urge you to support this motion.propose/put forward/table a motion (=make a proposal) I’d like to propose a motion to move the weekly meetings to Thursdays. The motion was seconded (=formally supported) by Mr Levin. The attorneys filed a motion (=made a proposal in a court) for a temporary restraining order.4in motion formal moving from one place or position to another: The end doors are not to be used when the train is in motion.5set/put something in motion to start a process or series of events that will continue for some time: The Church voted to set in motion the process allowing women to be priests. Once the house had been sold, Jane set the wheels in motion (=started the process) to find somewhere smaller to live.6go through the motions (of doing something) to do something because you have to do it, without being very interested in it: I feel so bored at work, like I’m just going through the motions.7body waste [countable] solid waste material that comes out when you empty your bowels – used especially by doctors and nurses → slow motion, time and motion studymotion1 nounmotion2 verb
motionmotion2 verb [intransitive, transitive] VERB TABLE
motion
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | motion |
| he, she, it | motions | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | motioned |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have motioned |
| he, she, it | has motioned | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had motioned |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will motion |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have motioned |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am motioning |
| he, she, it | is motioning | |
| you, we, they | are motioning | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was motioning |
| you, we, they | were motioning | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been motioning |
| he, she, it | has been motioning | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been motioning |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be motioning |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been motioning |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Kemp started to object, but I motioned him to be quiet.
- Neil finished his meal, and then motioned to the waitress.
- Seeing Bert in the doorway, I motioned for him to come in.
- Dunne motioned to the bartender, who refilled their glasses again.
- He motioned to the barman to refill their glasses, a feeling of satisfaction running through him.
- I motioned to her to sit down and we started on the mail.
- Mrs Vanya turned on a weak light, and motioned for me to sit.
- The gun motions for John to rise.
- The oldest daughter motioned to the third daughter, who tiptoed into the circle the women had made around the old man.
- The Sheikh motioned us to sit down, left his men outside, and picked up the phone on the table.
Longman Language Activatorto make a movement or sound to tell someone something
to make a movement, especially with your hand, in order to tell someone something: · I'll make a sign when I'm ready.· The President made a sign to indicate that he wanted to leave.make a sign (that): · From across the room Marla made a sign that she had seen me come in.
to make a movement or sound in order to give instructions or information: · A sailor began signalling with two flags.signal to: · Graham finished his drink and signalled to the waiter.signal that: · An official signalled that it was time for the race to begin.signal somebody to do something: · Slowly he inched around the corner, signalling for the others to follow.
to make a previously agreed sign that tells someone that they should start doing something: · When I give the signal, I want you all to start clapping.give (somebody) the signal to do something: · The dog waited patiently until his master gave him the signal to eat.
to move your hand or arm from one side to the other, for example in order to get someone's attention or to tell them something: · She continued to wave as the car drove out of sight.wave at: · Who's that waving at you?wave to: · The emperor waved to the crowd from the palace balcony.wave for somebody to do something: · Yolanda waved for us to come over.wave somebody through/on (=wave to show someone that they can go through or continue their journey): · The customs officer at the border waved us through.wave goodbye (=wave to someone who is leaving): · Her parents stood in the doorway and waved goodbye.
to quickly close and open one eye, in order to show that you are joking or that you share a secret with someone: · Ben grinned at his father and winked.wink at: · "The weather's so nice, I'm thinking of calling in sick tomorrow," she said, winking at me.
to make a slight downward movement with your head to say 'yes' or 'hello' or to say that something can begin: · Rob nodded his head in agreement.· "Has he really left you?" I asked. Josie nodded miserably.nod/nod your head at/to: · The two men nodded to each other, as if they'd met before.nod/nod your head for somebody to do something: · She nodded for Mike to lead the way.
to use a movement of your hand, especially to tell someone to go to a place or to emphasize your meaning when you are saying something: · The man was gesturing wildly, but we couldn't understand what he wanted.gesture to/at: · "Please sit down," said Winters, gesturing at the chair facing his own.gesture to: · Celia began listing their recent purchases and gestured proudly to the fountain.gesture for somebody to do something: · I turned to see a large policeman gesturing for us to move along.
to use a short movement of your arm or hand to tell someone what to do or where to go: motion to: · Neil finished his meal, and then motioned to the waitress.motion for somebody to do something: · Seeing Bert in the doorway, I motioned for him to come in.motion somebody to do something: · Kemp started to object, but I motioned him to be quiet.
to use a movement of your finger or head to tell someone to come towards you: · She beckoned and he came running immediately.· He was leaning over the wall, beckoning me.beckon to: · Jan beckoned to me, but I knew better than to sit next to her.beckon somebody in/over/to etc: · "Come and look at this," he said, beckoning me over to the window.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The resolution was proposed by the chairman of the International Committee.
The resolution was proposed by the chairman of the International Committee. (=sickness that some people get while travelling)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB· Jane said, motioning her away.· Larwood said Jardine motioned the field to the leg side.
· Assets abroad were frozen by the U. N. These events set into motion the erasure of the middle class.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► vote of no-confidence/no-confidence vote/motion of no-confidence etc► put down a motion/an amendment► set the wheels in motion/set the wheels turning
to give someone directions or instructions by moving your hand or head SYN signalmotion (for) somebody to do something- Baldwin tabled proposals which involved payments of £34 million a year.
- Even our own wets will summon up the courage to table a question or two.
- He has tabled a question on the issue for tomorrow's council meeting.
- If the hon. Gentleman wants to table a question or write to me, I shall be glad to enlarge upon that.
- The move came after a vote by regents indefinitely tabling a motion to rescind their July 20 vote revising admissions policies.
- The Umpires' Association had planned to table a motion giving an official vote of support for Lamb.
The police officer motioned for me to pull over.motion to somebody to do something He motioned to the barman to refill their glasses.motion somebody forward/away etc His father motioned him forward.motion somebody into/to something I saw her motioning me into the room.- inspect
- inspection
- inspector
- inspectorate
- Inspector Morse
- inspector of taxes
- inspiration
- inspirational
- inspire
- inspired
- inspiring
- instability
- install
- installation
- installment plan
- instalment
- instance
- instant
- instantaneous
- instantaneously
- instantly
- instant message
- instant messaging
- instant replay
- instead