Definition: motor

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

motor
     adj 1: conveying information to the muscles from the CNS; "motor
            nerves" [syn: centrifugal, motor]
     2: involving or relating to movements of the muscles; "motor
        coordination"; "a motor reflex"; "motor paralysis"
     3: causing or able to cause motion; "a motive force"; "motive
        power"; "motor energy" [syn: motive]
     n : machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical
         energy and so imparts motion
     v : travel or be transported in a vehicle; "We drove to the
         university every morning"; "They motored to London for
         the theater" [syn: drive]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Motor \Mo"tor\, n. [L., fr. movere, motum, to move.]
   1. One who, or that which, imparts motion; a source of
      mechanical power.

   2. (Mach.) A prime mover; a machine by means of which a
      source of power, as steam, moving water, electricity,
      etc., is made available for doing mechanical work.
Motor \Mo"tor\, Motory \Mo"to*ry\, Motorial \Mo*to"ri*al\, a.
   [L. motorius that has motion. See Motor, n.]
   Causing or setting up motion; pertaining to organs of motion;
   -- applied especially in physiology to those nerves or nerve
   fibers which only convey impressions from a nerve center to
   muscles, thereby causing motion.
Diesel engine \Die"sel en`gine\ or motor \mo`tor\ [After Dr.
   Rudolf Diesel, of Munich, the inventor.]
   A type of internal-combustion engine in which the air drawn
   in by the suction stroke is so highly compressed that the
   heat generated ignites the fuel (usually crude oil), the fuel
   being automatically sprayed into the cylinder under pressure.
   The Diesel engine has a very high thermal efficiency.
Motor \Mo"tor\, n.
   A motor car; an automobile. [Colloq.]