motive in WordNet English dictionary

1. a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration
   motif  motive 
   
2. a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music
   motif  motive 
   
3. the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
   "we did not understand his motivation"; "he acted with the best of motives"
   motivation  motive  need 
   

1. impelling to action
   "it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function"- Arthur Pap; "motive pleas"; "motivating arguments"
   motivative  motive  motivating 
   
2. causing or able to cause motion
   "a motive force"; "motive power"; "motor energy"
   motive  motor