Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of motor
"The mechanic spent all morning checking each of the four motors on the old tractor to see which one was making that strange noise."
In plain English: Motors are engines that provide power to make vehicles and machines move.
"The old truck needed new motors to start again."
Usage: Use "motors" to refer to multiple engines or electric devices that provide power to vehicles and machinery. Do not use this word to describe people moving quickly, which requires the phrase "move with motors."
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of motor
"The old car's motors hummed loudly as he tried to start it on such a cold morning."
In plain English: To motor means to move quickly with a loud humming sound, usually by using an engine.
"The old truck will not start unless you push the motors to get it moving again."
Usage: Do not use "motors" as a verb to mean operating a vehicle; instead, use the word "drives." The term "motors" is strictly the third-person singular form of the noun "motor," describing an engine that powers machinery.
Derived from the Latin motor (from movere, to move), the term originally referred to anything that causes motion before specifically denoting an engine in English. It entered common usage in the late 19th century as a plural noun for mechanical power sources.