motive: Meaning and Definition of

mo•tive

1. something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.
2. the goal or object of a person's actions: Her motive was revenge.
3. (in art, literature, and music) a motif.

1. causing, or tending to cause, motion.
2. pertaining to motion.
3. prompting to action.
4. constituting a motive or motives.

1. to motivate.

-motive

1. a combining form ofautomotive.