WordGarden.iolocomotor
C2Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtər/
Meanings
Adjective
relating to movement or to the bodily system that enables it
Beyond the definition
The word "locomotor" sounds like it belongs in a sci-fi movie, doesn't it? But it simply describes something connected with movement from one place to another. Think of the muscles in your legs: they are part of your locomotor system because they help you walk. The word comes from Latin roots linked to place and movement. It is most often used for living bodies, especially in biology and medicine. You might read about locomotor skills, locomotor muscles, or locomotor disorders when people talk about how the body moves and how the brain helps control that movement. You will not hear "locomotor" very often in everyday conversation, but it is common in scientific and medical writing.
"Locomotor" refers to something related to locomotion, or movement from one place to another. The word is used most often in biology, medicine, and health science when people talk about how a living body moves.
In many cases, it describes the parts of the body that make movement possible. The locomotor system includes muscles, bones, joints, and other structures that work together so a person or animal can stand, walk, run, or change position. In medical writing, you may see phrases such as "locomotor function," "locomotor activity," or "locomotor disorder." These refer to normal movement, the level of movement, or problems that affect movement.
The word can also be used in a broader scientific or technical way for movement-related parts in animals, small organisms, or machines. For example, a robot may have locomotor mechanisms that help it walk, and tiny structures that help simple organisms move through water may be called locomotor structures. Even so, the word is still much more common in discussions of the body than in everyday talk about vehicles or machines.
So while "locomotor" is not a casual everyday word, it is a useful and exact one. It helps describe the systems, abilities, and problems connected with moving from place to place, especially in people and animals.
Examples
- 1
Child development
The therapist watched how the child walked, ran, and climbed to assess his locomotor skills.
- 2
Rehabilitation
After the stroke, she began locomotor training on a treadmill.
- Phraselocomotor training
rehabilitation exercises that help someone walk better
- 3
Animal research
The study found that the drug reduced locomotor activity in mice.
- Phraselocomotor activity
how much an animal moves around
See also
Similar
- motor
- movement-related
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- stationary
- nonmotile
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- locomotor activity
- locomotor system
- locomotor skills
Word family
Explore
- gait
- motor control
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- locomotoradjective