Motive | Mean of motive in English Dictionary

/ˈmoʊtɪv/

• Noun
• a reason for doing something
1. Their motive in running away was to avoid being punished.
2. I think he's guilty of the crime. He had the motive, the means, and the opportunity.
3. She denied that her offer to help was based on selfish motives.
4. hidden/ulterior motives
5. making decisions based on the profit motive [=the desire to make a profit]
6. No one knows the main/real/underlying motive for his behavior.
• of, relating to, or causing motion
1. motive power