Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - motor

(motors) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. The motor in a machine, vehicle, or boat is the part that uses electricity or fuel to produce movement, so that the machine, vehicle, or boat can work. She got in and started the motor. = engine N-COUNT 2. Motor vehicles and boats have a petrol or diesel engine. Theft of motor vehicles is up by 15.9%. ADJ: ADJ n 3. Motor is used to describe activities relating to vehicles such as cars and buses. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use automotive, automobile) ...the future of the British motor industry... He worked as a motor mechanic. ADJ: ADJ n 4. Some people refer to a car as a motor. (BRIT INFORMAL) N-COUNT 5. see also motoring, outboard motor