motor
motor — 名詞
1. a part inside a machine that uses electrical power or fuel to create motion, all
馬達；發動機
將電能或燃料轉化為動能的裝置
a part inside a machine that uses electrical power or fuel to create motion, allowing the machine to run
The fan's motor stopped working after the power surge damaged it.
電風扇的馬達在電源突波後就停止運轉了。
Élise opened the back of the toy car and checked the small motor.
Élise 打開玩具車的背面，檢查裡面的小馬達。
motor + in [object] to show location inside a device
This electric bicycle has a quiet motor hidden inside the rear wheel.
這輛電動腳踏車的後輪內藏了一個安靜的馬達。
The factory installed a new motor to power the conveyor belt.
工廠安裝了一個新馬達來驅動輸送帶。
Owen checked whether the motor was getting enough electricity from the battery.
Owen 檢查了馬達是否從電池獲得足夠的電力。
常見錯誤
2. a car — used as an informal or slightly old-fashioned term, mainly in British En
汽車
英國非正式用語中指汽車
a car — used as an informal or slightly old-fashioned term, mainly in British English
Shirin parked her motor in the garage behind the terraced house.
Shirin 把她的車停在連棟房屋後面的車庫裡。
informal British: 'park + one's + motor'
My grandfather still calls every car a motor, even modern ones.
我爺爺到現在還是把每輛車都叫 motor，即使是新車也一樣。
The Harris family took the old motor out for a drive along the coast road.
Harris 一家人開著那輛舊車沿著海岸公路兜風去了。
Cyrus bought a second-hand motor for his daily trip to work.
Cyrus 為了每天通勤上班買了一輛二手車。
用法筆記
This sense appears mainly in British English and sounds informal or somewhat dated. Most modern speakers prefer the word 'car'. It is not used for commercial vehicles like buses or trucks.
常見錯誤
3. a person, event, or thing that provides the main energy or power behind progress
動力
推動進步或改變的主要力量
a person, event, or thing that provides the main energy or power behind progress, change, or growth
Élise was the motor behind the team's successful product launch.
Élise 是團隊成功推出產品的幕後推手。
person + 'was the motor behind' + achievement
Trade has been the main motor of economic growth in the region.
貿易一直是該地區經濟成長的主要動力。
Innovation acts as the motor that drives the technology industry forward.
創新是推動科技產業前進的引擎。
Indra described community spirit as the real motor behind the neighbourhood project.
Indra 形容社區精神是社區改造計畫背後的真正動力。
- driving force
more transparent and common in everyday English for the same figurative meaning
- engine
used similarly for the source of energy behind progress, e.g. 'engine of growth'
用法筆記
This is a figurative sense — the motor is not a physical machine but the driving force behind something. Often followed by 'of' or 'behind' + a noun phrase describing the result.
常見錯誤
motor — 形容詞
1. relating to cars and other road vehicles that have an engine — used before a nou
車輛的
與汽車或道路機動車輛有關的
relating to cars and other road vehicles that have an engine — used before a noun
Diego works in the motor industry as a design engineer for new models.
Diego 在汽車產業擔任新車款設計工程師。
collocation: 'motor industry' for the car manufacturing sector
The motor show in Frankfurt attracts visitors from around the world.
法蘭克福車展吸引了來自世界各地的參觀者。
Zuri took her car to a motor repair shop near the train station.
Zuri 把她的車開到火車站附近的一家汽車修理廠。
Motor vehicles are not allowed in the city's central park on weekends.
週末期間，機動車輛不得進入市中心的中央公園。
The motor trade has changed a lot with the rise of electric cars and batteries.
隨著電動車和電池的興起，汽車產業已經大幅改變。
- automotive
more technical and formal; more common in American English than 'motor'
用法筆記
'Motor' as an adjective almost always comes before a noun (attributive use). Common collocations include 'motor vehicle', 'motor industry', 'motor show', 'motor insurance', and 'motor repair'. In American English, 'automotive' is more common than 'motor' for this sense in some contexts.
常見錯誤
2. relating to the nerves, muscles, and brain functions that control physical movem
運動的
與控制身體運動的神經、肌肉有關的
relating to the nerves, muscles, and brain functions that control physical movement of the body
Children develop fine motor skills by drawing and playing with small objects.
兒童透過畫畫和玩小東西來發展精細動作技能。
collocation: 'fine motor skills' for precise hand movements
The patient's motor functions were affected after the stroke damaged part of her brain.
中風損傷了部分大腦後，病人的運動功能受到了影響。
collocation: 'motor functions' for the ability to move
Yael's doctor examined her motor reflexes during the routine check-up.
Yael 的醫生在例行健康檢查中檢查了她的運動反射。
Certain exercises can help improve motor coordination in older adults.
某些運動可以幫助改善老年人的動作協調能力。
- sensory
relating to the nerves that carry signals from the senses to the brain, opposite of motor nerves
用法筆記
A technical term used in medicine, neuroscience, and developmental psychology. It is not used in everyday conversation about cars or machines. Common compound terms include 'motor skills', 'motor cortex', 'motor neurons', and 'motor functions'.
常見錯誤
motor — 動詞
1. to move rapidly or make fast progress, often with a sense of energy and purpose
快速前進
快速前進或在進度、業績上迅速成長
to move rapidly or make fast progress, often with a sense of energy and purpose
The car motored along the empty highway at top speed.
那輛車以最高時速在空曠的高速公路上飛馳。
motor + along [road/path] for fast movement
Sales have been motoring ahead since the new product launched in stores.
自從新產品在商店上市後，銷售業績一直快速成長。
figurative: 'motor ahead' for rapid progress in business
The team motored through the project and finished two weeks before the deadline.
團隊快速前進，比截止日期早了兩週完成專案。
Felipe's career began to motor after he completed his training course.
Felipe 完成培訓課程後，他的職業生涯便開始快速起飛。
文法句型
motor + adverb/preposition (along, ahead, through)
用法筆記
Informal, used especially in British English. Often paired with adverbs or prepositions like 'along', 'ahead', or 'through' to show direction or speed. Can be used literally (movement) or figuratively (progress in work, sales, career).
常見錯誤
2. to travel somewhere in a car, usually for pleasure and at a relaxed pace
開車出遊
開車出遊或載送他人
to travel somewhere in a car, usually for pleasure and at a relaxed pace
The Kim family motored down to the coast for a long weekend by the sea.
Kim 一家人開車南下到海邊度過了一個長週末。
motor + down to [destination] for relaxed car travel
The family motored across the country in their old camper van.
那家人開著他們的舊露營車穿越了全國。
On sunny weekends, Yael and her friends like to motor into the countryside.
在晴朗的週末，Yael 和朋友們喜歡開車出遊到鄉下玩。
Cyrus motored his grandmother to the market every Saturday morning.
Cyrus 每個星期六早上都開車載奶奶去市場。
文法句型
motor + adverb of place
motor + object + adverb of place
用法筆記
Somewhat old-fashioned or slightly humorous in tone. More common in British English than American English. When used transitively (motor someone somewhere), the object is a passenger being driven.