motionnoun
uk/ˈməʊ.ʃən/us/ˈmoʊ.ʃən/motion noun (MOVEMENT)
C2 [ C or U ] the act or process of moving, or a particular action or movement:
The violent motion of the ship upset his stomach.
He rocked the cradle with a gentle backwards and forwards motion.
They showed the goal again in slow motion (= at a slower speed so that the action could be more clearly seen).
[ C ] UK a polite way of referring to the process of getting rid of solid waste from the body, or the waste itself:
The nurse asked if her motions were regular.
More examples
- Onstage she is a human dynamo, spending the hour in perpetual motion.
- He gloved the ball, turned, and threw in one motion.
- The motion of the car almost lulled her to sleep.
- The spaceship's jets were fired periodically to dampen a side-to-side pendulum motion that had developed.
- I thought a phone call to the right person might set the wheels in motion.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Movement
- ambulatory
- be treading water idiom
- catalepsy
- comings
- get
- gravitation
- immobile
- immobilize
- inert
- mobile
- motile
- motility
- movable
- movement
- moving
- pull
- pull up short idiom
- steady
- still
- tread
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
General words for movement
Animal physiology: excrement & its excretion
motion noun (SUGGESTION)
C2 [ C ] a formal suggestion made, discussed, and voted on at a meeting:
[ + to infinitive ] Someone proposed a motion to increase the membership fee to $500 a year.
The motion was accepted/passed/defeated/rejected.
More examples
- Delegates have voted in favour of the motion.
- Anyone wishing to dissent from the motion should now raise their hand.
- Those voting for the motion, 96, and those voting against, 54.
- The motion for tonight's debate is, "This house believes that capital punishment should be abolished."
- He proposed a motion that the chairman resign.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Suggestions & proposals
- about
- float
- get at sth
- grab
- hint
- how about...? idiom
- how does... grab you? idiom
- how/what about...? idiom
- indication
- it wouldn't hurt you to do sth idiom
- might
- offer
- on the table idiom
- point sb towards/in the direction of sth idiom
- posit
- postulate
- proposal
- put
- put ideas into sb's head idiom
- table
See more results »
Idiom(s)
go through the motions
put/set sth in motion
motionverb [ I or T, usually + adv/prep ]
uk/ˈməʊ.ʃən/us/ˈmoʊ.ʃən/to make a signal to someone, usually with your hand or head:
I saw him motion to the man at the door, who quietly left.
Her family all gathered around her, but she motioned them away.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] He motioned me to sit down.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Gestures & gesturing
- air punch
- air quotes
- bat
- beckon
- blow
- bob
- body language
- finger
- gesture
- give sb the finger idiom
- inclination
- mooning
- namaskar
- nod
- non-verbal
- pump
- pump sb's hand idiom
- signing
- wave sb off
- wave sb/sth down
See more results »