Definition: motion

Search dictionary for

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

motion
     n 1: a natural event that involves a change in the position or
          location of something [syn: movement]
     2: the use of movements (especially of the hands) to
        communicate familiar or prearranged signals [syn: gesture,
         gesticulation]
     3: a change of position that does not entail a change of
        location; "the reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his
        surprise"; "movement is a sign of life"; "an impatient
        move of his hand"; "gastrointestinal motility" [syn: movement,
         move, motility]
     4: a state of change; "they were in a state of steady motion"
        [ant: motionlessness]
     5: a formal proposal for action made to a deliberative assembly
        for discussion and vote; "he made a motion to adjourn";
        "she called for the question" [syn: question]
     6: the act of changing your location from one place to another;
        "police controlled the motion of the crowd"; "the movement
        of people from the farms to the cities"; "his move put him
        directly in my path" [syn: movement, move]
     7: an optical illusion of motion produced by viewing a rapid
        succession of still pictures of a moving object; "the
        cinema relies on apparent motion"; "the succession of
        flashing lights gave an illusion of movement" [syn: apparent
        motion, apparent movement, movement]
     v : show, express or direct through movement; "He gestured his
         desire to leave" [syn: gesticulate, gesture]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Resolution \Res`o*lu"tion\ (-l?"sh?n), n. [F. r['e]solution. L.
   resolutio a loosening, solution. See Resolve.]
   1. The act, operation, or process of resolving. Specifically:
      (a) The act of separating a compound into its elements or
          component parts.
      (b) The act of analyzing a complex notion, or solving a
          vexed question or difficult problem.

                The unraveling and resolution of the
                difficulties that are met with in the execution
                of the design are the end of an action.
                                                  --Dryden.

   2. The state of being relaxed; relaxation. [Obs.]

   3. The state of being resolved, settled, or determined;
      firmness; steadiness; constancy; determination.

            Be it with resolution then to fight.  --Shak.

   4. That which is resolved or determined; a settled purpose;
      determination. Specifically: A formal expression of the
      opinion or will of an official body or a public assembly,
      adopted by vote; as, a legislative resolution; the
      resolutions of a public meeting.

   5. The state of being resolved or firm in opinion or thought;
      conviction; assurance. [Obs.]

            Little resolution and certainty there is as touching
            the islands of Mauritania.            --Holland.

   6. (Math.) The act or process of solving; solution; as, the
      resolution of an equation or problem.

   7. (Med.) A breaking up, disappearance; or termination, as of
      a fever, a tumor, or the like.

   8. (Mus.) The passing of a dissonant into a consonant chord
      by the rising or falling of the note which makes the
      discord.

   Joint resolution. See under Joint, a.

   Resolution of a force or motion (Mech.), the separation
      of a single force or motion into two or more which have
      different directions, and, taken together, are an
      equivalent for the single one; -- the opposite of
      composition of a force.

   Resolution of a nebula (Astron.), the exhibition of it to
      the eye by a telescope of such power as to show it to be
      composed of small stars.

   Syn: Decision; analysis; separation; disentanglement;
        dissolution; resolvedness; resoluteness; firmness;
        constancy; perseverance; steadfastness; fortitude;
        boldness; purpose; resolve. See Decision.
Resultant \Re*sult"ant\, a. [L. resultans, p. pr. : cf. F.
   r['e]sultant.]
   Resulting or issuing from a combination; existing or
   following as a result or consequence.

   Resultant force or motion (Mech.), a force which is the
      result of two or more forces acting conjointly, or a
      motion which is the result of two or more motions
      combined. See Composition of forces, under
      Composition.
Motion \Mo"tion\, n. [F., fr. L. motio, fr. movere, motum, to
   move. See Move.]
   1. The act, process, or state of changing place or position;
      movement; the passing of a body from one place or position
      to another, whether voluntary or involuntary; -- opposed
      to rest.

            Speaking or mute, all comeliness and grace attends
            thee, and each word, each motion, forms. --Milton.

   2. Power of, or capacity for, motion.

            Devoid of sense and motion.           --Milton.

   3. Direction of movement; course; tendency; as, the motion of
      the planets is from west to east.

            In our proper motion we ascend.       --Milton.

   4. Change in the relative position of the parts of anything;
      action of a machine with respect to the relative movement
      of its parts.

            This is the great wheel to which the clock owes its
            motion.                               --Dr. H. More.

   5. Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or
      impulse to any action; internal activity.

            Let a good man obey every good motion rising in his
            heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from
            God.                                  --South.

   6. A proposal or suggestion looking to action or progress;
      esp., a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly;
      as, a motion to adjourn.

            Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion. --Shak.

   7. (Law) An application made to a court or judge orally in
      open court. Its object is to obtain an order or rule
      directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant.
      --Mozley & W.

   8. (Mus.) Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in
      the same part or in groups of parts.

            The independent motions of different parts sounding
            together constitute counterpoint.     --Grove.

   Note: Conjunct motion is that by single degrees of the scale.
         Contrary motion is that when parts move in opposite
         directions. Disjunct motion is motion by skips. Oblique
         motion is that when one part is stationary while
         another moves. Similar or direct motion is that when
         parts move in the same direction.

   9. A puppet show or puppet. [Obs.]

            What motion's this? the model of Nineveh? --Beau. &
                                                  Fl.

   Note: Motion, in mechanics, may be simple or compound.

   Simple motions are: (a) straight translation, which, if
      of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating. (b)
      Simple rotation, which may be either continuous or
      reciprocating, and when reciprocating is called
      oscillating. (c) Helical, which, if of indefinite
      duration, must be reciprocating.

   Compound motion consists of combinations of any of the
      simple motions.

   Center of motion, Harmonic motion, etc. See under
      Center, Harmonic, etc.

   Motion block (Steam Engine), a crosshead.

   Perpetual motion (Mech.), an incessant motion conceived to
      be attainable by a machine supplying its own motive forces
      independently of any action from without.
Motion \Mo"tion\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Motioned; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Motioning.]
   1. To make a significant movement or gesture, as with the
      hand; as, to motion to one to take a seat.

   2. To make proposal; to offer plans. [Obs.] --Shak.
Motion \Mo"tion\, v. t.
   1. To direct or invite by a motion, as of the hand or head;
      as, to motion one to a seat.

   2. To propose; to move. [Obs.]

            I want friends to motion such a matter. --Burton.