mo·tion (mō'shən)
n.

1. The act or process of changing position or place.
2. A meaningful or expressive change in the position of the body or a part of the body; a gesture.
3. Active operation: set the plan in motion.
4. The ability or power to move: lost motion in his arm.
5. The manner in which the body moves, as in walking.
6. A prompting from within; an impulse or inclination: resigned of her own motion.
7. Music. Melodic ascent and descent of pitch.
8. Law. An application made to a court for an order or a ruling.
9. A formal proposal put to the vote under parliamentary procedures.
10. 1. A mechanical device or piece of machinery that moves or causes motion; a mechanism.
    2. The movement or action of such a device.

v., -tioned, -tion·ing, -tions.

v.tr.
To direct by making a gesture: motioned us to our seats.

v.intr.
To signal by making a gesture: motioned to her to enter.

idiom:

go through the motions

1. To do something in a mechanical manner indicative of a lack of interest or involvement.

[Middle English mocioun, from Old French motion, from Latin mōtiō, mōtiōn-, from mōtus, past participle of movēre, to move.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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