motive

mo·tive  (mtv)

n.

1. An emotion, desire, physiological need, or similar impulse that acts as an incitement to action.

2. (mtv, m-tv) A motif in art, literature, or music.

adj.

1. Causing or able to cause motion: motive power.

2. Impelling to action: motive pleas.

3. Of or constituting an incitement to action.

tr.v. mo·tived, mo·tiv·ing, mo·tives

To motivate.

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[Middle English motif, motive, from Old French motif, from Late Latin mtvus, of motion, from Latin mtus, past participle of movre, to move; see meu- in Indo-European roots.]

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motive

Noun

1. the reason, whether conscious or unconscious, for a certain course of action

2. same as motif (sense 2)

Adjective

of or causing motion: a motive force [Late Latin motivus moving]

Thesaurus

Noun	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; "we did not understand his motivation"; "he acted with the best of motives" motivation, need psychological feature - a feature of the mental life of a living organism life - a motive for living; "pottery was his life" rational motive - a motive that can be defended by reasoning or logical argument irrational motive - a motivation that is inconsistent with reason or logic impulse, urge - an instinctive motive; "profound religious impulses" ethical motive, ethics, morals, morality - motivation based on ideas of right and wrong mental energy, psychic energy - an actuating force or factor
	2.	motive - a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music motif melodic theme, musical theme, theme, idea - (music) melodic subject of a musical composition; "the theme is announced in the first measures"; "the accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it" obbligato, obligato - a persistent but subordinate motif
	3.	motive - a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration motif pattern, design, figure - a decorative or artistic work; "the coach had a design on the doors"
Adj.	1.	motive - causing or able to cause motion; "a motive force"; "motive power"; "motor energy" motor causative - producing an effect; "poverty as a causative factor in crime"
	2.	motive - impelling to action; "it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function"- Arthur Pap; "motive pleas"; "motivating arguments" motivating, motivative causative - producing an effect; "poverty as a causative factor in crime"

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motive

noun 1. reason, motivation, cause, ground(s), design, influence, purpose, object, intention, spur, incentive, inspiration, stimulus, rationale, inducement, incitement, mainspring, the why and wherefore

adjective 2. moving, driving, motivating, operative, activating, impelling

Translations

motive [ˈməutɪv] n → motivo;

from the best motives → con las mejores intenciones

motive [ˈməutɪv] n → motif m, mobile m

adj → moteur/trice;

from the best (of) motives → avec les meilleures intentions (du monde)

motive [ˈməutɪv] n → Motiv nt, Beweggrund m

adj (power, force) → Antriebs-;

from the best (of) motives → mit den besten Absichten

motive [ˈməutɪv] n → motivo

adj → motore/trice;

from the best motives → con le migliori intenzioni

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motive

n motive [ˈməutiv]

something that makes a person choose to act in a particular way; a reason What was his motive for murdering the old lady?motiefدافِع، حافِزмотивmotivmotiv; bevæggrunddas Motivκίνητρο,ελατήριοmotivomotiivانگيزهmotiivimotifמֵנִיעप्रयोजनmotivindítékmotiftilefnimotivo動機동기motyvas, akstinasmotīvs; iemeslsmotifbeweegredenmotiv, begrunnelsemotywmotivomotivповод; мотивmotívnagibmotivmotivแรงจูงใจneden, sebep, dürtü動機мотив, привідمقصدđộng cơ动机

v ˈmotivate [-veit]

to cause to act in a particular way He was motivated by jealousy.motiveerيُحَفِّزмотивирамpodnítitmotivereanregenωθώ, παρακινώmotivarajendamaتحريک کردنolla vaikuttimenapousserלְהָנִיעप्रेरित करनाmotiviratimotiválmendoronghvetja, kveikja löngun/áhugamotivare動機づける동기를 부여하다, 자극하다skatintimotivēt; rosinātbermotivasidrijven,aanzettenmotiveremotywowaćmotivara împinge, a motivaпобуждатьpodnietiťspodbuditimotivisatimotiveraกระตุ้นsebep olmak, güdülemek激發спонукатиترغیب دیناthúc đẩy激发

n motiˈvation

motiveringإثارَه، تَشْويق، تَحْفيز، حَفْزмотивацияmotivacemotivationdie Motivierungκίνητρο, παρακίνησηmotivaciónmotivatsioonمحرکmotivaatiomotivationמוֹטִיבַציָה, הֲנַעַהप्रेरणmotivacijaindok(lás), motivációmotivasiáhugi; ástæða, hvötmotivazione動機づけ동기 부여, 자극motyvacija, stimulasmotivācija; stimulsmotivasimotiveringmotivasjonmotywacjamotivaçãomotivaţieпобуждениеmotiváciamotivacija; utemeljitevmotivacijamotivering, motivationแรงบันดาลใจmotivasyon, güdülenme促進因素мотиваціяترغیبsự thúc đẩy促进因素