/ ˈmuːvmənt; NAmE / noun
CHANGING POSITION
1.
[ C , U ] an act of moving the body or part of the body :
hand / eye movements
She observed the gentle movement of his chest as he breathed.
Loose clothing gives you greater freedom of movement.
There was a sudden movement in the undergrowth.
2.
[ C , U ] an act of moving from one place to another or of moving sth from one place to another :
enemy troop movements
laws to allow free movement of goods and services
GROUP OF PEOPLE
3.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] a group of people who share the same ideas or aims :
the women's / peace movement
the Romantic movement (= for example in literature)
a mass movement for change
PERSON'S ACTIVITIES
4.
movements [ pl. ] a person's activities over a period of time, especially as watched by sb else :
The police are keeping a close watch on the suspect's movements.
CHANGE OF IDEAS / BEHAVIOUR
5.
[ sing. ] movement (away from / towards sth) a gradual change in what people in society do or think
SYN trend :
a movement towards greater sexual equality
PROGRESS
6.
[ U ] movement (in sth) progress, especially in a particular task :
It needs cooperation from all the countries to get any movement in arms control.
CHANGE IN AMOUNT
7.
[ U , C ] movement (in sth) a change in amount :
There has been no movement in oil prices.
MUSIC
8.
[ C ] any of the main parts that a long piece of music is divided into :
the slow movement of the First Concerto
OF BOWELS
9.
[ C ] ( technical ) = bowel movement
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French from medieval Latin movimentum , from Latin movere to move.