n. & v.
--n.
1. the act or process of moving or of changing position.
2 a particular manner of moving the body in walking etc.
3 a change of posture.
4 a gesture.
5 a formal proposal put to a committee, legislature, etc.
6 Law an application for a rule or order of court.
7 a an evacuation of the bowels. b (in sing. or pl.) faeces.
8 a piece of moving mechanism.
--v. (often foll. by to + infin.) 1 tr. direct (a person) by a sign or gesture.
2 intr. (often foll. by to a person) make a gesture directing (motioned to me to leave).
Phrases and idioms:
go through the motions 1 make a pretence; do something perfunctorily or superficially.
2 simulate an action by gestures. in motion moving; not at rest. motion picture (often (with hyphen) attrib.) a film (see FILM n. 3) with the illusion of movement. put (or set) in motion set going or working.
Derivatives:
motional adj. motionless adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L motio -onis (as MOVE)