I. mo·bile ˈmōbəl, -ˌbēl also -ˌbīl or -(ˌ)bil sometimes mōˈbē(ə)l adjective
Etymology: Middle French, from Latin mobilis, from (assumed) Latin movibilis, from Latin movēre to move + -ibilis -ible — more at move
1. : capable of moving or being moved from one place to another : movable: as
a. : capable of moving or being moved about readily
globular proteins that are mobile and rod-shaped proteins that form solid structures
the tongue … is clearly the most mobile articulator — G.A.Miller
specifically : characterized by an extreme degree of fluidity
ether and mercury are mobile liquids
— compare viscous
b. : organized and equipped for ready movement (as by truck or air transport)
mobile fighting forces
mobile television units for on-the-spot reporting
c. : free for use or service anywhere : not restricted or committed
mobile dollars to be used where they can best advance the welfare of the whole institution — Saturday Review
mobile labor … could be sent anywhere in England — Henry Green
d. : designed as a vehicle or mounted on a vehicle or easily placed on or in a vehicle (as a trailer or truck)
mobile loudspeakers carrying the campaign speeches into the streets
a mobile missile launcher
mobile homes
2. : capable of or tending to change : changeable: as
a. : changing readily in appearance and expression under the influence of mind or feeling
his mobile face mirrors every feeling from bitter sadness to ecstasy — Eleanor Harris
b. : easily swayed in feeling, purpose, or direction
a mind adventurously flexible but not frivolously mobile — Cecil Sprigge
c. : marked by ready adaptability
industrial resources so mobile that they could be quickly switched from producing for export to producing for home demand
: alert and flexible in the use of resources
a mobile imagination
an organization mobile enough to cope with any emergency
3. : characterized by frequent or continuous movement
the wind in mobile grasses
specifically : tending to travel or migrate from place to place
we began as explorers, empire builders, pilgrims, and refugees, … and we are still today the most mobile people on the face of the earth — G.W.Pierson
the Indians of the Great Plains were mobile bison hunters — Clark Wissler
4.
a. : characterized by the mixing of social groups
the general confusion in moral standards which characterizes mobile societies — E.R.Mowrer
: affording opportunity for a shift in social status
American society, though highly mobile … is not classless — Times Literary Supplement
b. : having the opportunity for or undergoing a shift in status within the hierarchical social levels of a society
a society in which women are more mobile than men
born of upward mobile middle-class … parents — Newsweek
5. : marked by the use of vehicles for transportation
mobile defense
mobile warfare
took to their cars for a mobile holiday
6. : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a mobile
II. mo·bile ˈmōˌbēl sometimes -ˌbīl or -ˌbil or mōˈbē(ə)l; in sense 3 mōˈbē(ə)l or ˈmōˌbēl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French ( premier ) mobile primum mobile, part translation of Medieval Latin ( primum ) mobile, from neuter of Latin mobilis, adjective
1. : something that occasions movement or action — see primum mobile
2.
a. : a movable or moving body or part : one that is mobile
b.
(1) : a delicately balanced construction or sculpture frequently made of wire and sheet metal shapes and having movable parts that can be set in motion by air currents or mechanical propulsion — compare stabile
(2) : a set of lightweight figures (as of animals or story characters) that are suspended on fine wire or string so that they hang in perfect balance and may be moved by a current of air
3.
[by shortening]
: automobile
III. mob·i·le ˈmäbə(ˌ)lē noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin mobile ( vulgus ) changeable crowd, the movable common people, neuter of mobilis, adjective
: mob III 1
IV. mo·bile (ˈ)mō|bē(ə)l adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: from Mobile, Ala.
: of or from the city of Mobile, Ala.
Mobile gardens
: of the kind or style prevalent in Mobile