English adjective: motive | |||
1. | motive causing or able to cause motion | ||
Samples | A motive force. Motive power. Motor energy. | ||
Synonyms | motor | ||
Similar | causative | ||
Antonyms | noncausal, noncausative | ||
2. | motive impelling to action | ||
Samples | It may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function. Motive pleas. Motivating arguments. | ||
Synonyms | motivating, motivative | ||
Similar | causative | ||
Antonyms | noncausal, noncausative | ||
English noun: motive | |||
1. | motive the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior | ||
Samples | We did not understand his motivation. He acted with the best of motives. | ||
Synonyms | motivation, need | ||
Broader (hypernym) | psychological feature | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | ethical motive, ethics, impulse, irrational motive, life, mental energy, morality, morals, psychic energy, rational motive, urge | ||
2. | motive (communication) a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music | ||
Synonyms | motif | ||
Broader (hypernym) | idea, melodic theme, musical theme, theme | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | obbligato, obligato | ||
3. | motive (artifact) a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration | ||
Synonyms | motif | ||
Broader (hypernym) | design, figure, pattern | ||