From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmotionmo‧tion1 /ˈməʊʃən $ ˈmoʊ-/ ●●○ W3 noun 1 movement [uncountable]MOVE/CHANGE POSITION the process of moving or the way that someone or something movesmotion of the motion of the planets The rocking motion of the boat made Sylvia feel sick. Newton’s first law of motion2 moving your head or hand [countable]SIGN/GESTURE a single movement of your head or hand, especially one made in order to communicate something SYN gesturemotion of He summoned the waiter with a motion of his hand. Doyle glanced back at Bodie, and made a slight motion with his head.3 suggestion at a meeting [countable]PPVSUGGEST a proposal that is made formally at a meeting, and then is usually decided on by voting The motion was defeated by 201 votes to 159.motion to do something/motion that We will now vote on the motion that membership charges should rise by 15%.pass/carry/approve a motion (=accept it by voting) The motion was carried unanimously. I urge you to support this motion.propose/put forward/table a motion (=make a proposal) I’d like to propose a motion to move the weekly meetings to Thursdays. The motion was seconded (=formally supported) by Mr Levin. The attorneys filed a motion (=made a proposal in a court) for a temporary restraining order.4 → in motion5 → set/put something in motion6 → go through the motions (of doing something)7 body waste [countable]HBHMN solid waste material that comes out when you empty your bowels – used especially by doctors and nurses → slow motion, time and motion study
Examples from the Corpus
motion• All motion is of course relative.• For any exercise with a bending motion, the knees must be slightly bent.• Its motion can be detected - for example, by deflecting a laser beam that bounces off a mirror attached to the needle.• I look forward to smoother graphs of pendulum motion!• the gentle rolling motion of the ship• Older men and women are running motion offense drills, practicing low post moves.• Immediately after the motion was read on the floor, it was tabled by a near-party line vote.• Slow at first, the motion gathered speed until it was too dazzling for the eye to follow.• It takes a day at least for me to become accustomed to the motion of the ship.• a smooth throwing motion• Geometry, then, is concerned with the production of figures by various motions.pass/carry/approve a motion• You lose weight, you feel very weak, and pass motions up to 10 times a day.• Once this is well established the sticker is only awarded for passing a motion into the lavatory.• At that time there was a widespread practice of holding the child over a newspaper for passing a motion.• Bowel training showed less social class difference possibly because there are clearer anticipating signs of passing a motion.• Later the child is encouraged to pass motions while in the bathroom or lavatory.• Luke, a 4-year-old boy, would sit on his heels in order not to pass a motion.• He refused to pass motions in the toilet and had phases of extreme stomach-ache and lethargy due to his extreme constipation.motionmotion2 verb [intransitive, transitive] SIGN/GESTUREto give someone directions or instructions by moving your hand or head SYN signalmotion (for) somebody to do something The police officer motioned for me to pull over.motion to somebody to do something He motioned to the barman to refill their glasses.motion somebody forward/away etc His father motioned him forward.motion somebody into/to something I saw her motioning me into the room.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
motion• Seeing Bert in the doorway, I motioned for him to come in.• The gun motions for John to rise.• Mrs Vanya turned on a weak light, and motioned for me to sit.• Kemp started to object, but I motioned him to be quiet.• I motioned to her to sit down and we started on the mail.• He motioned to the barman to refill their glasses, a feeling of satisfaction running through him.• Dunne motioned to the bartender, who refilled their glasses again.• The oldest daughter motioned to the third daughter, who tiptoed into the circle the women had made around the old man.• Neil finished his meal, and then motioned to the waitress.• The Sheikh motioned us to sit down, left his men outside, and picked up the phone on the table.motion (for) somebody to do something• Such a move would likely be shut off, though, by a motion from Armey to adjourn.• It was in perpetual motion up to and including the moment they all sat in each other's seats.• After walking for some time through the wood Valdemar put his finger to his lips and motioned us to be quiet.• But Cesarea motions for Dona Eustaquia to get the salt herself.• I motioned to her to sit down and we started on the mail.• At this point, the director of the school arrived and motioned for me to join her.• He got in, put his hands on the wheel, motioned her over to the passenger door.• Evans motioned for Guzman to throw.• His views on motion seem to us today quite absurd.From Longman Business Dictionarymotionmo‧tion /ˈməʊʃənˈmoʊ-/ noun [countable] a suggestion that is made formally at a meeting and then decided on by votingThe motion was carried (=accepted) by 15 votes to 10.I’d like to propose a motion to move the weekly meetings to Thursdays. → see also proposal, resolutionOrigin motion1 (1300-1400) Old French Latin motio “movement”, from movere; → MOVE1 