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Motion vs. Gesture — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Motion and Gesture

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Definitions

Motion

In physics, motion is the phenomenon in which an object changes its position over time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed, and time.

Gesture

A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication or non-vocal communication in which visible bodily actions communicate particular messages, either in place of, or in conjunction with, speech. Gestures include movement of the hands, face, or other parts of the body.

Motion

The action or process of moving or being moved
A cushioned shoe that doesn't restrict motion
The laws of planetary motion

Gesture

A movement of part of the body, especially a hand or the head, to express an idea or meaning
So much is conveyed by gesture
Alex made a gesture of apology

Motion

A formal proposal put to a legislature or committee
Opposition parties tabled a no-confidence motion
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Gesture

Make a gesture
She gestured meaningfully with the pistol

Motion

An evacuation of the bowels
73% of the patients had fewer than three bowel motions a day
Her mother put on her nappy for her to pass a motion

Gesture

A motion of the limbs or body made to express or help express thought or to emphasize speech.

Motion

Direct or command (someone) with a movement of the hand or head
He motioned Dennis to a plush chair
He motioned the young officer to sit down

Gesture

The action of making such a motion or motions
Communicated solely by gesture.
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Motion

Propose for discussion and resolution at a meeting or legislative assembly
A resolution, motioned by Adam Tyler, proposed that members without a CCL could still belong to the association
Councillor Byrne motioned that the committee call on the area manager to install street lighting

Gesture

An act or a remark made as a formality or as a sign of intention or attitude
Sent flowers as a gesture of sympathy.

Motion

The act or process of changing position or place.

Gesture

To make gestures.

Motion

A meaningful or expressive change in the position of the body or a part of the body; a gesture.

Gesture

To show, express, or direct by gestures
Gestured her disapproval.

Motion

Active operation
Set the plan in motion.

Gesture

A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.
The middle-finger gesture is really a nonverbal swear.
This Web browser can be controlled with mouse gestures.

Motion

The ability or power to move
Lost motion in his arm.

Gesture

An act or a remark that serves as a formality or as a sign of attitude.
We took flowers as a gesture of sympathy.

Motion

The manner in which the body moves, as in walking.

Gesture

(GUI) A motion made with a pointing device, or on a touchscreen, that is recognised by the system as a command.

Motion

A prompting from within; an impulse or inclination
Resigned of her own motion.

Gesture

(obsolete) The manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture.

Motion

(Music) Melodic ascent and descent of pitch.

Gesture

(intransitive) To make a gesture or gestures.
My dad told me never to gesture with my hands when I talk.
Never gesture at someone using your middle finger: it may be perceived as an insult.

Motion

(Law) An application made to a court for an order or a ruling.

Gesture

(transitive) To express something by a gesture or gestures.
He gestured his disgust.

Motion

A formal proposal put to the vote under parliamentary procedures.

Gesture

(transitive) To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action.

Motion

A mechanical device or piece of machinery that moves or causes motion; a mechanism.

Gesture

Manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture.
Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture used by many nations.

Motion

The movement or action of such a device.

Gesture

A motion of the body or limbs expressive of sentiment or passion; any action or posture intended to express an idea or a passion, or to enforce or emphasize an argument, assertion, or opinion.
Humble and reverent gestures.
Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye,In every gesture dignity and love.

Motion

To direct by making a gesture
Motioned us to our seats.

Gesture

To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action; to gesticulate.
It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth.

Motion

To indicate by making a gesture; signal
Motioned that he was ready.

Gesture

To make gestures; to gesticulate.
The players . . . gestured not undecently withal.

Motion

To make a motion (that something should happen).

Gesture

Motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling

Motion

To signal by making a gesture
Motioned to her to enter.

Gesture

The use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

Motion

(uncountable) A state of progression from one place to another.

Gesture

Something done as an indication of intention;
A political gesture
A gesture of defiance

Motion

(countable) A change of position with respect to time.

Gesture

Show, express or direct through movement;
He gestured his desire to leave

Motion

(physics) A change from one place to another.

Motion

(countable) A parliamentary action to propose something. A similar procedure in any official or business meeting.
The motion to amend is now open for discussion.

Motion

(obsolete) An entertainment or show, especially a puppet show.

Motion

(philosophy) from κίνησις (kinesis); any change. Traditionally of four types: generation and corruption, alteration, augmentation and diminution, and change of place.

Motion

Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity.

Motion

(law) A formal request, oral or written, made to a judge or court of law to obtain an official court ruling or order for a legal action to be taken by, or on behalf of, the movant.

Motion

(euphemistic) A movement of the bowels; the product of such movement.

Motion

(music) Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same part or in groups of parts. (Conjunct motion is that by single degrees of the scale. Contrary motion is when parts move in opposite directions. Disjunct motion is motion by skips. Oblique motion is when one part is stationary while another moves. Similar or direct motion is when parts move in the same direction.)

Motion

(obsolete) A puppet, or puppet show.

Motion

(mechanical engineering) A piece of moving mechanism, such as on a steam locomotive.

Motion

To gesture indicating a desired movement.
He motioned for me to come closer.

Motion

(proscribed) To introduce a motion in parliamentary procedure.

Motion

To make a proposal; to offer plans.

Motion

The act, process, or state of changing place or position; movement; the passing of a body from one place or position to another, whether voluntary or involuntary; - opposed to rest.
Speaking or mute, all comeliness and graceattends thee, and each word, each motion, forms.

Motion

Power of, or capacity for, motion.
Devoid of sense and motion.

Motion

Direction of movement; course; tendency; as, the motion of the planets is from west to east.
In our proper motion we ascend.

Motion

Change in the relative position of the parts of anything; action of a machine with respect to the relative movement of its parts.
This is the great wheel to which the clock owes its motion.

Motion

Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity.
Let a good man obey every good motion rising in his heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from God.

Motion

A proposal or suggestion looking to action or progress; esp., a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly; as, a motion to adjourn.
Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion.

Motion

An application made to a court or judge orally in open court. Its object is to obtain an order or rule directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant.

Motion

Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same part or in groups of parts.
The independent motions of different parts sounding together constitute counterpoint.

Motion

A puppet show or puppet.
What motion's this? the model of Nineveh?

Motion

To make a significant movement or gesture, as with the hand; as, to motion to one to take a seat.

Motion

To make proposal; to offer plans.

Motion

To direct or invite by a motion, as of the hand or head; as, to motion one to a seat.

Motion

To propose; to move.
I want friends to motion such a matter.

Motion

A natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something

Motion

The use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

Motion

A change of position that does not entail a change of location;
The reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise
Movement is a sign of life
An impatient move of his hand
Gastrointestinal motility

Motion

A state of change;
They were in a state of steady motion

Motion

A formal proposal for action made to a deliberative assembly for discussion and vote;
He made a motion to adjourn
She called for the question

Motion

The act of changing location from one place to another;
Police controlled the motion of the crowd
The movement of people from the farms to the cities
His move put him directly in my path

Motion

An optical illusion of motion produced by viewing a rapid succession of still pictures of a moving object;
The cinema relies on apparent motion
The succession of flashing lights gave an illusion of movement

Motion

Show, express or direct through movement;
He gestured his desire to leave

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