Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense motions, present participle motioning, past tense, past participle motioned
1. uncountable noun
Motion is the activity or process of continually changing position or moving from one place to another.
...the laws governing light, sound, and motion.
One group of muscles sets the next group in motion.
The wind from the car's motion whipped her hair around her head.
Synonyms: movement, action, mobility, passing More Synonyms of motion
2. countable noun
A motion is an action, gesture, or movement.
Cover each part of the body with long sweeping strokes or circular motions.
He made a neat chopping motion with his hand.
Synonyms: gesture, sign, wave, signal More Synonyms of motion
3. countable noun
A motion is a formal proposal or statement in a meeting, debate, or trial, which is discussed and then voted on or decided on.
The conference is now debating the motion and will vote on it shortly.
Opposition parties are likely to bring a no-confidence motion against the government. [+ against]
He is eligible now to file a motion for a new trial.
Synonyms: proposal, suggestion, recommendation, proposition More Synonyms of motion
4. verb
If you motion to someone, you move your hand or head as a way of telling them to do something or telling them where to go.
She motioned for the locked front doors to be opened. [VERB + for]
He stood aside and motioned Don to the door. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
I motioned him to join us. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
He motioned to her to go behind the screen. [VERB + to]
Synonyms: gesture, direct, wave, signal More Synonyms of motion
5. countable noun
Some people, especially doctors or nurses, use motion as a polite way of referring to a person's act of defecation or the faeces produced.
[British, politeness]
Try to make sure your bowel motions are regular and that you avoid any constipation.
regional note: in AM, use movement
6. See also slow motion, time and motion
7.
See go through the motions
8.
See go through the motions
9.
See in motion
10.
See set the wheels in motion
motion in British English
(ˈməʊʃən)
noun
1.
the process of continual change in the physical position of an object; movement
linear motion
▶ Related adjective: kinetic
2.
a movement or action, esp of part of the human body; gesture
3.
a.
the capacity for movement
b.
a manner of movement, esp walking; gait
4.
a mental impulse
5.
a formal proposal to be discussed and voted on in a debate, meeting, etc
6. law
an application made to a judge or court for an order or ruling necessary to the conduct of legal proceedings
7. British
a.
the evacuation of the bowels
b.
excrement
8.
a.
part of a moving mechanism
b.
the action of such a part
9. music
the upward or downward course followed by a part or melody. Parts whose progressions are in the same direction exhibit similar motion, while two parts whose progressions are in opposite directions exhibit contrary motion
See also parallel (sense 3)
10. go through the motions
11. in motion
verb
12. (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive)
to signal or direct (a person) by a movement or gesture
Derived forms
motional (ˈmotional)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Latin mōtiō a moving, from movēre to move
Motion in British English
(ˈməʊʃən)
noun
Sir Andrew. born 1952, British poet and biographer; his collections include Pleasure Steamers (1978) and Public Property (2002): poet laureate (1999–2009)
motion in American English
(ˈmoʊʃən)
noun
1.
the act or process of moving; passage of a body from one place to another; movement
2.
the act of moving the body or any of its parts
3.
a meaningful movement of the hand, eyes, etc.; gesture
4. Rare
the ability to move
5.
an impulse; inclination
of one's own motion
6.
a proposal; suggestion; esp. a proposal formally made in an assembly or meeting
7. Law
an application to a court for a ruling, order, etc.
8. Mechanics
a combination of moving parts; mechanism
9. Music
melodic progression, as a change from one pitch to another in a voice part
verb intransitive
10.
to make a meaningful movement of the hand, head, etc.; gesture
verb transitive
11.
to direct or command by a meaningful gesture
Idioms:
go through the motions
in motion
Derived forms
motional (ˈmotional)
adjective
motionless (ˈmotionless)
adjective
motionlessly (ˈmotionlessly)
adverb
motionlessness (ˈmotionlessness)
noun
Word origin
ME mocioun < L motio (gen. motionis), a moving < motus, pp. of movere, move
More idioms containing
motion
set the wheels in motion
COBUILD Collocations
motion
approve a motion
back a motion
circular motion
constant motion
forward motion
pass a motion
sign a motion
Examples of 'motion' in a sentence
motion
His life is played out in slow motion.
The Sun (2016)
They are so far gone that the pain is moulded into one motion that you are continually pushing through.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It looks worse in slow motion.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I do not think slow motion should be used in the disciplinary hearings either.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you have ideas about changing how you look or work then it's time to set them in motion.
The Sun (2016)
Move the brush in a circular motion around your teeth rather than scrubbing them, which can damage your gums.
The Sun (2016)
As he motions one of the big cats to climb a ladder, another leaps off his stand and pounces.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If it was, then check in slow motion for detail on where the contact was made and how bad it was.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Had they been, the incident would have been replayed time and again in slow motion and that must be stopped too.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Using your fingertips, move around the hairline in small, circular motions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As we entered he made neither sound nor motion.
Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)
The plot is set in motion without a force to set it in motion.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Activists voted overwhelmingly for a conference motion attacking the victory at all costs mentality in the sport.
The Sun (2014)
There are motion sensors and light switches.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They are so big that it seems that they move in slow motion.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The selection process is now set in motion.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You should not just pull up the racket in one motion before striking.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
When it happened it was slow motion.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Work the product in using circular motions.
The Sun (2014)
One great motion and all is cleansed.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Then he mimicked the motion that changed the entire game.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She made neither motion nor sound.
George MacDonald The Princess and the Curdie (1883)
They both fly fast and straight, but with a trembling motion of their body.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She opens the door and motions for us to follow her down a long, poorly lit corridor.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is essential to comb from the scalp to the end of the hair in one motion and clear the comb after each stroke.
The Sun (2006)
She motions with her head.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In case of "expeditions to put down revolt", he observed that these were "not put in motion merely to bring about a temporary cessation of hostility.
Mcinnes, Colin & Sheffield G.D (eds.) Warfare in the Twentieth Century (1988)
In other languages
motion
British English: motion NOUN
Motion is the activity or process of continually changing position or moving from one place to another.
...the laws governing light, sound, and motion.
American English: motion
Brazilian Portuguese: movimento
Chinese: 运动
European Spanish: movimiento
French: mouvement
German: Bewegung
Italian: moto
Japanese: 運動
Korean: 운동
European Portuguese: movimento
Latin American Spanish: movimiento
British English: motion VERB
If you motion to someone, you move your hand or head as a way of telling them to do something or telling them where to go.
She motioned for the locked front doors to be opened.
He motioned the man to get up.
American English: motion
Brazilian Portuguese: indicar
Chinese: 以手示意
European Spanish: hacer señas
French: faire signe
German: bedeuten
Italian: fare un cenno
Japanese: 身振りで示す
Korean: >동작을 해 보이다손이나 머리로
European Portuguese: indicar
Latin American Spanish: hacer señas
Definition of 'motion'
Chinese translation of 'motion'
motion
(ˈməuʃən)
n
(u)运(運)动(動) (yùndòng)
(c) (= gesture) 动(動)作 (dòngzuò) (个(個), gè)
(c) (in meeting) 动(動)议(議) (dòngyì) (项, xiàng)
(c) (Brit) (also bowel motion)
大便 (dàbiàn)
美 = movement
vi
to motion to sb (to do sth) (= gesture, signal) 示意某人(做某事) (shìyì mǒurén (zuò mǒushì))
to be in motion[process, event]在进(進)行中 (zài jìnxíng zhōng) [vehicle, device]在行驶(駛)中 (zài xíngshǐ zhōng)
to set sth in motion[process, event]使某事开(開)始进(進)行 (shǐ mǒushì kāishǐ jìnxíng) [device]使某物开(開)始运(運)转(轉) (shǐ mǒuwù kāishǐ yùnzhuǎn)