Motive - English meaning

noun

The underlying support or foundation for an idea, argument, or process.

Usage examples:

Trust is the only basis for a good working relationship

noun

The most important facts, ideas, etc. from which something is developed

Usage examples:

Form the basis for this document will form the basis for our discussion., on the basis of decisions…

noun

A way or method of doing something

Usage examples:

On a voluntary basis most of our staff work for us on a voluntary basis (= they work without being …

noun

A person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition.

Usage examples:

The cause of the accident is not clear

verb

Make (something, especially something bad) happen.

Usage examples:

This disease can cause blindness

conjunction

Short for because.

noun

An abstract idea.

Usage examples:

Structuralism is a difficult concept

noun

A principle or idea

Usage examples:

He introduced the concept of selling books via the internet.

noun

An idea for a new product or a way to sell a product

Usage examples:

The finished product was very different from the original concept., this course will acquaint you w…

noun

A plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is made.

Usage examples:

He has just unveiled his design for the new museum

verb

Decide upon the look and functioning of (a building, garment, or other object), by making a detailed drawing of it.

Usage examples:

A number of architectural students were designing a factory

verb

The act of working out the form of something

adjective

(of rain or snow) blown by the wind with great force.

Usage examples:

Driving rain

noun

The control and operation of a motor vehicle.

Usage examples:

He was convicted of reckless driving

verb

Operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle.

Usage examples:

He got into his car and drove off

noun

An essential or characteristic part of something abstract.

Usage examples:

The death had all the elements of a great tabloid story

noun

One of the parts of something that makes it work, or a quality that makes someone or something effective

Usage examples:

The heating element of a toaster, having a second income is an important element for most home buye…

noun

A part of something

Usage examples:

List the elements that make up a perfect dinner party., the movie had all the elements of a good th…

noun

The solid surface of the earth.

Usage examples:

He lay on the ground

verb

Short for ground bass.

adjective

Reduced to fine particles by crushing or mincing.

Usage examples:

Ground cumin

noun

A thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action.

Usage examples:

The idea of linking pay to performance has caught on

noun

A suggestion or plan for doing something

Usage examples:

Have an idea i've had an idea - why don't we go to the coast?, good idea "let's go swimming." "that…

noun

An understanding, thought, or picture in your mind

Usage examples:

Have any idea of do you have any idea of what he looks like?, give someone an idea of something can…

verb

Drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something.

Usage examples:

Financial difficulties impelled him to desperate measures

verb

To force someone to do something

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] when i see them eating, i feel impelled to eat, too.

verb

To make someone feel that they must do something

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] she was in such a mess i felt impelled to (= felt i had to) offer your services…

noun

A sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act.

Usage examples:

I had an almost irresistible impulse to giggle

An impelling force or strength

noun

A sudden, strong desire to do something

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] i had this impulse to dye my hair red., [ u ] i bought this expensive sweater o…

noun

A thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.

Usage examples:

Give farmers an incentive to improve their land

noun

Something that encourages a person to do something

Usage examples:

[ c ] tax incentives are sometimes effective in encouraging people to save money., [ u ] these kids…

noun

Something, especially money, that encourages a person or organization to do something

Usage examples:

Financial/fiscal/monetary incentive cash grants were part of the financial incentives given to deve…

noun

The action of provoking unlawful behaviour or urging someone to behave unlawfully.

Usage examples:

This amounted to an incitement to commit murder

noun

The act of encouraging someone to do or feel something unpleasant or violent

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] they were imprisoned for incitement to commit grievous bodily harm., there are …

noun

A thing that persuades or leads someone to do something.

Usage examples:

Companies were prepared to build only in return for massive inducements

noun

An act or a thing that is intended to make something happen or to persuade someone to do something

Usage examples:

Inducement (for sb) to do sth they offered him a large pay increase as an inducement for him to sta…

noun

An act or thing that is intended to persuade someone or something

Usage examples:

Financial/cash inducements, those tenants are not going to swap lifetime security for shorter-term …

noun

The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself.

Usage examples:

The influence of television violence

verb

Have an influence on.

Usage examples:

Government regulations can influence behaviour, but often without changing underlying values and mo…

verb

A power to affect persons or events

noun

A thing intended; an aim or plan.

Usage examples:

She was full of good intentions

noun

Something that you want and plan to do; an aim

Usage examples:

[ u ] i have no intention of selling this house., [ c ] he had good intentions (= he meant to be ki…

noun

Something that you want and plan to do

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] it wasn't my intention to exclude her from the list - i just forgot her., inten…

adjective

Relating to or resulting from motion.

Usage examples:

We consider it far more likely that kinematic and kinetic aspects of forelimb motion coevolved.

adjective

Involving or producing movement

noun

A recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation.

Usage examples:

There are two leitmotifs in his score marking the heroine and her fairy godmother

noun

A phrase or other feature that is repeated often in a work of art, literature, or music and that tells you something important about it

Usage examples:

Death and renewal are leitmotivs running through the whole novel.

noun

The chemical element of atomic number 71, a rare silvery-white metal of the lanthanide series.

The chemical element lutetium.

noun

A decorative image or design, especially a repeated one forming a pattern.

Usage examples:

The colourful hand-painted motifs which adorn narrowboats

noun

A reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Usage examples:

Escape can be a strong motivation for travel

noun

Willingness to do something, or something that causes such willingness

Usage examples:

[ c ] one motivation for reducing the staff was the need to cut costs., [ u ] you need a lot of mot…

noun

Enthusiasm for doing something

Usage examples:

Many staff lack motivation and are resistant to change., a motivation for sth a major motivation fo…

noun

A machine, especially one powered by electricity or internal combustion, that supplies motive power for a vehicle or for another device with moving parts.

Usage examples:

These electric motors are highly reliable

adjective

Driven by a motor.

Usage examples:

A motor van

verb

Travel in a motor vehicle.

Usage examples:

They motored north up the m6

adjective

In motion.

Usage examples:

A fast-moving river

verb

Go in a specified direction or manner; change position.

Usage examples:

She moved to the door

noun

The act or process of someone going to live or work in a different place, or of a company taking all or part of its business to a different place

Usage examples:

Any moving expenses will be paid by the company.

noun

A material thing that can be seen and touched.

Usage examples:

He was dragging a large object

verb

Say something to express one's opposition to or disagreement with something.

Usage examples:

Residents object to the volume of traffic

noun

A thing that can be seen, held, or touched, usually not a living thing

Usage examples:

Distant objects look blurry to me., the object of the game of chess is to checkmate your opponent.,…

noun

A particular event, or the time at which it takes place.

Usage examples:

On one occasion i stayed up until two in the morning

verb

Cause (something).

Usage examples:

Something vital must have occasioned this visit

noun

A particular time when something happens

Usage examples:

Sarah loves dressing up for special occasions., she has lied on several occasions., this meeting pr…

adjective

Functioning or having effect.

Usage examples:

The transmitter is operative

noun

A worker, especially one in a manufacturing industry.

Usage examples:

The operatives clean the machines at the end of every shift

verb

Drive or push something forwards.

Usage examples:

The boat is propelled by using a very long paddle

verb

To cause something to move forward

Usage examples:

Seals use their fins and flippers to propel them through the water with great force., fig. if the t…

adjective

Having the quality of driving or pushing forwards.

Usage examples:

The propulsive rhythm of a fast train

adjective

Moving to the next part, situation, etc. very quickly, often in an exciting way

Usage examples:

Their music features propulsive rhythms that you just have to dance to., cinematic blockbusters are…

noun

The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

Usage examples:

The purpose of the meeting is to appoint a trustee

verb

Have as one's intention or objective.

Usage examples:

God has allowed suffering, even purposed it

noun

A set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or belief.

Usage examples:

He explained the rationale behind the change

noun

A cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event.

Usage examples:

She asked him to return, but didn't give a reason

verb

Think, understand, and form judgements logically.

Usage examples:

Humans do not reason entirely from facts

noun

A person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with.

Usage examples:

I've said all there is to be said on the subject

adjective

Likely or prone to be affected by (a particular condition or occurrence, typically an unwelcome or unpleasant one).

Usage examples:

He was subject to bouts of manic depression

adverb

Conditionally upon.

Usage examples:

Subject to the ec's agreement, we intend to set up an enterprise zone in the area

phrase

The reasons for something

Usage examples:

I know very little about the whys and the wherefores of the situation., it wasn't just the facts ab…

noun

The subject of a talk, piece of writing, exhibition, etc.; a topic.

Usage examples:

The theme of the sermon was reverence

verb

Give a particular theme or setting to (a leisure venue, event, etc.).

Usage examples:

The amusement park will be themed as a caribbean pirate stronghold

noun

The topic of discussion or writing

Usage examples:

The theme of the conference was the changing role of women in modern society.

noun

The process of considering or reasoning about something.

Usage examples:

The selectors have some thinking to do before the match

adjective

Using thought or rational judgement; intelligent.

Usage examples:

He seemed a thinking man

verb

Have a particular opinion, belief, or idea about someone or something.

Usage examples:

She thought that nothing would be the same again

noun

A matter dealt with in a text, discourse, or conversation; a subject.

Usage examples:

Sleep deprivation became a frequent topic of conversation

noun

A figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression.

Usage examples:

Both clothes and illness became tropes for new attitudes toward the self