motive
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++mo·tive1 /ˈməʊtɪv $ ˈmoʊ-/ ●●○ AWL noun [countable] 1 REASONthe reason that makes someone do something, especially when this reason is kept hidden 〔尤指隐藏的〕动机，原因，目的 What do you suppose the killer’s motive was? 你认为凶手的动机是什么？motive for (doing) something The police believe the motive for this murder was jealousy. 警方认为这宗谋杀案的动机是嫉妒。motive behind The motives behind the decision remain obscure. 这个决定背后的动机依然不明。 The violence was clearly prompted by political motives. 这次暴力事件显然是由政治动机引发的。 It’s not the kind of thing he’d do unless he had an ulterior motive (=a reason he kept hidden). 他不会做这种事的，除非他另有隐情。► see thesaurus at reason2. x-refa motif 〔文艺作品的〕主题；〔装饰等的〕基调，基本图案；〔音乐作品的〕主旋律 —motiveless adjective an apparently motiveless killing 一起表面上没有动机的杀人案n COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa strong motiveBarbara had a strong motive for disliking Ben.the main motiveThe main motive for the killings seemed to be revenge.the prime/primary motive (=the main motive)Concern was her prime motive in visiting Mrs Green.a possible motiveThe police are still thinking about possible motives for the murders.a clear motiveShe had no clear motive to lie.a hidden motiveShe wondered if there was a hidden motive for his departure.an ulterior motive (=a hidden motive)Did you think I had an ulterior motive for coming here?somebody’s real/true motiveWhat were his true motives for offering her the job?an underlying motive (=a motive that is not directly stated)The treaty’s underlying motive was to make Japan a strong ally of the US.a political motiveThe murders might have a political motive.an economic motiveMany people believed that there were economic motives to the decision to go to war.mixed motivesHe had mixed motives for joining the army: a desire to prove himself, but also the desire to get away from his family.verbshave a motiveWho might have had a motive for killing him?question/suspect somebody’s motive (=think that someone might have selfish or dishonest reasons for doing something)They began to question the motives of the people who held positions of power.find/establish a motiveSo far the police have been unable to establish a motive for the murder.Examples from the Corpus
motive• However, if the prosecution does not raise it as a motive for murder the defence is unlikely to challenge this.• Morris said that police have not determined a motive in the attack.• Marty social services are simply not well suited to companies whose basic motive is profit.• In an age when information is power, there are clear motives for archiving.• It's hard to understand her motives.• Nor does it provide a rationale for people with questionable motives to vent their hostilities or express their idiosyncrasies.• There is an obvious social motive behind explanations with a sharing function.• Police believe the motive for the murder was jealousy• Police say the motive for the killing was an unpaid drug debt.• Police are investigating but said they had no clue as to the motive.• The motive behind the killing of Agnes Law was robbery.• She was suspicious. Was there an ulterior motive behind his request?• Whatever your motives for coming over, I'm glad you did.motive for (doing) something• Chief Superintendent Louis Munn said police were still trying to piece together exactly what happened and establish a motive for the attack.• Motivation means that you have a good motive for action.• But it was not the Crown's invariable motive for summoning a Parliament.• If a national asylum were provided there would be no motive for concealment.• Police have said they know of no motive for the shooting.• It is of course difficult to appraise peoples' motives for buying or selling derivative assets, so mere observation is insufficient.• Jamie had no idea of her real motive for searching the dead man's rooms.• Consideration should be given to the background of prospective clients and their motives for requiring us to carry out the work.motive2 AWL adjective [only before noun] technicalHPTEM the motive power or force for a machine, vehicle etc makes it move 引起运动的；起推动作用的；提供动力的 Water provided the motive power for the mill. 水为磨坊提供了动力。Examples from the Corpus
motive• It was the motive force that powered the world.Origin motive1 (1500-1600) Old French motif, from motif “moving”; → MOTIVE2 motive2 (1400-1500) Old French motif, from Medieval Latin motivus, from Latin motus; → MOTOR1mo·tive1 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1motive2 adjectiveLDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
someone that do especially something, makes reason Corpus the
motive
mo‧tive1 AC /ˈməʊtɪv $ ˈmoʊ-/ 
noun [countable]
What do you suppose the killer’s motive was?
motive for (doing) something
The police believe the motive for this murder was jealousy.
motive behind
The motives behind the decision remain obscure.
The violence was clearly prompted by political motives.
It’s not the kind of thing he’d do unless he had an ulterior motive (=a reason he kept hidden).
2. a motif
—motiveless adjective:
an apparently motiveless killing
■ adjectives
▪a strong motive Barbara had a strong motive for disliking Ben.
▪the main motive The main motive for the killings seemed to be revenge.
▪the prime/primary motive (=the main motive) Concern was her prime motive in visiting Mrs Green.
▪a possible motive The police are still thinking about possible motives for the murders.
▪a clear motive She had no clear motive to lie.
▪a hidden motive She wondered if there was a hidden motive for his departure.
▪an ulterior motive (=a hidden motive) Did you think I had an ulterior motive for coming here?
▪sb’s real/true motive What were his true motives for offering her the job?
▪an underlying motive (=a motive that is not directly stated) The treaty’s underlying motive was to make Japan a strong ally of the US.
▪a political motive The murders might have a political motive.
▪an economic motive Many people believed that there were economic motives to the decision to go to war.
▪mixed motives He had mixed motives for joining the army: a desire to prove himself, but also the desire to get away from his family.
■ verbs
▪have a motive Who might have had a motive for killing him?
▪question/suspect sb’s motive (=think that someone might have selfish or dishonest reasons for doing something) They began to question the motives of the people who held positions of power.
▪find/establish a motive So far the police have been unable to establish a motive for the murder.
▪ reason why something happens, or why someone does something: What was the reason for the delay? | I don’t know the reason why he left his last job.
▪explanation a set of reasons that helps you to understand why something happens, especially when it seems difficult to understand: There are various possible explanations for climate change. | Is there any explanation for his behavior?
▪motive a reason that makes someone decide to do something – often used about crimes: Police say that there is no obvious motive for the attack.
▪justification a good reason for doing something that seems wrong: There is never any justification for torture or abuse. | They try to use the situation in the Middle East as a justification for killing innocent civilians. | There’s no justification for this type of behaviour.
▪grounds a reason that makes it right or fair to do something, especially according to legal, official, or moral rules: The court will decide if she has grounds for divorce. | They claim the war is justified on moral grounds (=because of moral reasons).
▪basis the main ideas or reasons on which something is based: The doctor makes his decisions purely on the basis of clinical observation. | What do you think is the basis for this advice?
▪rationale /ˌræʃəˈnɑːl $ -ˈnæl/ formal a set of reasons that are used to explain why someone does something in a particular way: the rationale behind the government’s economic reforms | This chapter explains the nature of yearly plans, and provides a rationale for their use.
motive2 AC adjective [only before noun]
Water provided the motive power for the mill.
| I |
noun [countable] Word Family: adjective: motivated, motivational, motiveless; noun: motive, motivation; verb: motivate
1. the reason that makes someone do something, especially when this reason is kept hidden: motive for (doing) something
motive behind
2. a motif
—motiveless adjective:
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adjective [only before noun] Date: 1400-1500
Language: Old French
Origin: motif, from Medieval Latin motivus, from Latin motus; ⇨ motor1
technical the motive power or force for a machine, vehicle etc makes it move:Language: Old French
Origin: motif, from Medieval Latin motivus, from Latin motus; ⇨ motor1
reason a cause or an explanation for sth that has happened or that sb has done; a fact that makes it right or fair to do sth 指某事发生或做某事的原因、理由、解释、道理 ：◆ He said no but he didn't give a reason. 他说不行，但没有说明原因。 explanation a statement, fact or situation that tells you why sth has happened; a reason given for sth 指解释、说明、阐述 ：◆ The most likely explanation is that his plane was delayed. 最可能的解释是他的飞机晚点了。 ◆ She left the room abruptly without explanation. 她未作解释就突然离开了房间。 grounds ( a good or true reason for saying, doing or believing sthrather
指说、做或相信某事的充分理由、根据 ：◆ You have no grounds for complaint. 你没有理由抱怨。 basis ( the reason why people take a particular actionrather
指原因、缘由 ：◆ On what basis will this decision be made? 将基于何种原因作出这一决定呢？ excuse a reason, either true or invented, that you give to explain or defend your behaviour; a good reason that you give for doing sth that you want to do for other reasons 指为自己行为所作的辩护、借口、理由 ：◆ Late again! What's your excuse this time? 又迟到了！你这次有什么借口？ ◆ It gave me an excuse to take the car. 这使我有理由开车去了。 motive a reason that explains sb's behaviour 指动机、原因 ：◆ There seemed to be no motive for the murder. 这起谋杀案看不出有什么动机。 justification ( a good reason why sth exists or is donerather
指事物存在或做某事的正当理由 ：◆ I can see no possible justification for any further tax increases. 我看不出还能提出什么理由来加税了。
grounds or justification? 用 grounds 还是 justification？
pretext ( a false reason that you give for doing sth, usually sth bad, in order to hide the real reasonrather
指为掩盖做某事（通常为不好的事）的真正理由而找的借口、托辞 ：◆ He left the party early on the pretext of having to work. 他借口有事要处理，早早离开了聚会。
Patterns
(a/an) reason/explanation/grounds/basis/excuse/motive/justification/pretext for sththe reason/motive behind sthon the grounds/basis/pretextof/that… (a) good/valid reason/explanation/grounds/excuse/motive/justification