n.

1. a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something;
   movement
2. the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals;
   gesture
3. a change of position that does not entail a change of location;
   movement, move, motility
   
   • the reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise
   • movement is a sign of life
   • an impatient move of his hand
   • gastrointestinal motility
4. a state of change
   
   • they were in a state of steady motion
5. a formal proposal for action made to a deliberative assembly for discussion and vote;
   question
   
   • he made a motion to adjourn
   • she called for the question
6. the act of changing location from one place to another;
   movement, move
   
   • 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
7. an optical illusion of motion produced by viewing a rapid succession of still pictures of a moving object;
   apparent motion, apparent movement, movement
   
   • the cinema relies on apparent motion
   • the succession of flashing lights gave an illusion of movement

v.

1. show, express or direct through movement;
   gesticulate, gesture
   
   • He gestured his desire to leave