— motional , adj. — motioner , n.
/moh"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the action or process of moving or of changing place or position; movement.
2. power of movement, as of a living body.
3. the manner of moving the body in walking; gait.
4. a bodily movement or change of posture; gesture.
5. a proposal formally made to a deliberative assembly: to make a motion to adjourn.
6. Law. an application made to a court or judge for an order, ruling, or the like.
7. a suggestion or proposal.
8. an inward prompting or impulse; inclination: He will go only of his own motion.
9. Music. melodic progression, as the change of a voice part from one pitch to another.
10. Mach.
a. a piece of mechanism with a particular action or function.
b. the action of such a mechanism.
11. go through the motions , to do something halfheartedly, routinely, or as a formality or façade.
12. in motion , in active operation; moving: The train was already in motion when he tried to board it.
v.t.
13. to direct by a significant motion or gesture, as with the hand: to motion a person to a seat.
v.i.
14. to make a meaningful motion, as with the hand; gesture; signal: to motion to someone to come.
[ 1350-1400; ME mocio ( u ) n motion- (s. of motio ), equiv. to mot ( us ) (ptp. of movere to MOVE) + -ion- -ION ]
Syn. 1. MOTION, MOVE, MOVEMENT refer to change of position in space. MOTION denotes change of position, either considered apart from, or as a characteristic of, something that moves; usually the former, in which case it is often a somewhat technical or scientific term: perpetual motion. The chief uses of MOVE are founded upon the idea of moving a piece, in chess or a similar game, for winning the game, and hence the word denotes any change of position, condition, or circumstances for the accomplishment of some end: a shrewd move to win votes. MOVEMENT is always connected with the person or thing moving, and is usually a definite or particular motion: the movements of a dance. 3. bearing, carriage.