music combining rhythm and blues and pop, or gospel rhythms and modern ballad harmony
Word origin
C20: from Motown Records of Detroit; from Mo(tor)Town, a nickname for Detroit, Michigan, centre of the US car industry
Motown in American English
(ˈmoʊˌtaʊn)
US
adjective
designating or of a style of rhythm and blues of the 1960s characterized by a strong, even beat and the use of elements derived from black gospel music
Word origin
< a trademark for phonograph records, etc. < Mo(tor) Town, nickname for Detroit
Examples of 'Motown' in a sentence
Motown
`Franklin' - Smokes grinned- `she's the noisiest thing to come out of the Motown since Little Stevie Wonder.
O'Connor, Joe DESPERADOES
"Mitch and Joyce used to dance all over the kitchen every time a Motown record came on the radio," I said.
Pearl Cleage WHAT LOOKS LIKE CRAZY ON AN ORDINARY DAY (1997)