motive
1. 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 (Freq. 18)
- we did not understand his motivation
- he acted with the best of motives
• Syn:
motivation, need
• Derivationally related forms:
motivate, motivational (for: motivation), motivate (for: motivation)
• Hypernyms:
psychological feature
• Hyponyms:
life, rational motive, irrational motive, urge, impulse,
ethical motive, ethics, morals, morality, psychic energy, mental energy
2. a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration
• Syn:
motif
• Hypernyms:
design, pattern, figure
3. a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music
• Syn:
motif
• Hypernyms:
theme, melodic theme, musical theme, idea
• Hyponyms:
obbligato, obligato
1. causing or able to cause motion (Freq. 1)
- a motive force
- motive power
- motor energy
• Syn:
motor
• Similar to:
causative
• Derivationally related forms:
motor (for: motor), motivity
2. impelling to action
- "it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function"- Arthur Pap
- motive pleas
- motivating arguments
• Syn:
motivative, motivating
• Similar to:
causative
• Derivationally related forms:
motivating (for: motivating), motivate (for: motivative)
|
|
