Noun

motor (plural motors)

1. A machine or device that converts any form of energy into mechanical energy, or imparts motion
2. (archaic) A motor car, or automobile

Synonyms

• engine

Derived terms

• electric motor
• motorbike

• motorise
• motor unit

Related terms

• motoric
• psychomotor
• sensorimotor

Adjective

motor (not comparable)

1. (biology) describing neurons that create the ability to move

   motor unit

   She has excellent motor skills.

Motor is a device that creates motion. It usually refers to an engine of some kind. It may also specifically refer to:

• Electric motor, a machine that converts electricity into a mechanical motion
  • AC motor, an electric motor that is driven by alternating current
    • Synchronous motor, an alternating current motor distinguished by a rotor spinning with coils passing magnets at the same rate as the alternating current and resulting magnetic field which drives it
    • Induction motor, also called a squirrel-cage motor, a type of asynchronous alternating current motor where power is supplied to the rotating device by means of electromagnetic induction
  • DC motor, an electric motor that runs on direct current electricity
    • Brushed DC electric motor, an internally commutated electric motor designed to be run from a direct current power source
    • Brushless DC motor, a synchronous electric motor which is powered by direct current electricity and has an electronically controlled commutation system, instead of a mechanical commutation system based on brushes
  • Electrostatic motor, a type of electric motor based on the attraction and repulsion of electric charge
  • Servo motor, an electric motor that operates a servo, commonly used in robotics
  • Internal fan-cooled electric motor, an electric motor that is self-cooled by a fan, typically used for motors with a high energy density

Other uses:

• Actuator, a mechanical device for moving or controlling a mechanism or system
• Hydraulic motor, a machine that converts the energy of pressurized liquid flow into mechanical motion
• Rocket motor, usually refers to solid rocket engines
• Molecular motor, the agents of movement in living organisms
  • Synthetic molecular motor, molecular machines capable of rotation under energy input
• Motor language, extinct since the 1840s, a Uralic language that was spoken in the northern region of the Sayan Mountains in Siberia
• Motor system, the physiological system that is responsible for physical movement
  • Motor neuron, neurons that originate in the spinal cord and synapse with muscle fibers
  • Motor skill, the ability of an organism to use the motor system effectively
• Nanomotor, a molecular device capable of converting energy into movement
• Pneumatic motor, a machine that converts the energy of compressed air into mechanical motion
• The Motors, a British pub rock/punk band, formed in 1977 by Nick Garvey, Andy McMaster, Ricky Slaughter and Rob Hendry, who was replaced by Bram Tchaikovsky the same year
• The Motor, defunct British magazine
• Motor (magazine), Australian magazine