mo·tive

noun

/ˈməʊtɪv/

motive (for something) a reason for doing something动机；原因；目的
- There seemed to be no motive for the murder.这起谋杀案看不出有什么动机。
- I'm suspicious of his motives.我怀疑他的动机。
- the profit motive (= the desire to make a profit)谋利的动机
- I have an ulterior motive in offering to help you.我主动提出要帮助你是有私心的。
Synonyms reason
reasonexplanation ▪ grounds ▪ basis ▪ excuse ▪ motive ▪ justification ▪ pretextThese are all words for a cause or an explanation for something that has happened or that somebody has done.
reason a cause or an explanation for something that has happened or that somebody has done; a fact that makes it right or fair to do something:
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 something has happened; a reason given for something:
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 (rather formal) a good or true reason for saying, doing or believing something:
You have no grounds for complaint.你没有理由抱怨。
basis (rather formal) the reason why people take a particular action:
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 something that you want to do for other reasons:
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。
motive a reason that explains somebody’s behaviour:
There seemed to be no motive for the murder.这起谋杀案看不出有什么动机。
justification (rather formal) a good reason why something exists or is done:
I can see no possible justification for any further tax increases.我看不出还能提出什么理由再加税。
grounds or justification?Justification is used to talk about finding or understanding reasons for actions, or trying to explain why it is a good idea to do something. It is often used with words like little, no, some, every, without, and not any. Grounds is used more for talking about reasons that already exist, or that have already been decided, for example by law: moral/economic grounds.
pretext (rather formal) a false reason that you give for doing something, usually something bad, in order to hide the real reason:
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 something
- the reason/motive behind something
- on the grounds/basis/pretext of/that…
- (a) good/valid reason/explanation/grounds/excuse/motive/justification
Extra Examples
- He was acting from the highest motives when he offered her money.他给她钱是出于最高尚的目的。
- He was suspicious of her motives in inviting him into the house.他对于她邀请他进屋的动机有所怀疑。
- However you explain the motives behind his actions, he was still wrong.不管你如何解释他行为背后的动机，他仍旧是错了。
- I did it for a variety of motives.我那样做有多种原因。
- I'd say he had a very strong motive for wanting her dead.可以说他谋杀她的动机很强烈。
- It it is clear that they were acting from motives of revenge.很明显，他们的行为是出于报复的动机。
- She knew that he was inspired by base motives.她知道他动机卑鄙。
- She should examine her motives for marrying him.她应该认真考虑自己为什么要嫁给他。
- She was not sure what his underlying motives were.她吃不准他有什么潜在的动机。
- The police are still trying to establish a motive for the attack.警方仍在试图确定袭击的目的。
- There is no doubt about the motive behind it all.这一切背后的动机是毋庸置疑的。
- There may be a hidden motive for his departure.也许他的离开有我们所不知道的原因。
- There must be something which provided a motive for these killings.肯定有什么事提供了这些杀人凶案的动机。
- There seemed to be no clear motive for the attack.这次攻击似乎没有明确的动机。
- We give aid to other countries with mixed motives.我们援助他国是出于多种原因。
- We've become adept at hiding our true motives.我们已经变得很善于隐藏自己的真实动机了。
- What was their motive in setting fire to the building?他们放火烧大楼的动机是什么？
- speculation that less noble motives were driving the country's foreign policy认为驱动该国外交政策的动机不够高尚的推测
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- hidden
- ulterior
- good
- …
verb + motive
- be inspired by
- have
- establish
- …
motive + verb
- drive somebody/something
preposition
- motive in
- motive behind
- motive for
- …
phrases
- a variety of motives
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French motif (adjective used as a noun), from late Latin motivus, from movere ‘to move’.

单词	motive
释义	mo·tive noun /ˈməʊtɪv/ /ˈməʊtɪv/ motive (for something) a reason for doing something动机；原因；目的 There seemed to be no motive for the murder.这起谋杀案看不出有什么动机。 I'm suspicious of his motives.我怀疑他的动机。 the profit motive (= the desire to make a profit)谋利的动机 I have an ulterior motive in offering to help you.我主动提出要帮助你是有私心的。 Synonyms reasonreasonexplanation ▪ grounds ▪ basis ▪ excuse ▪ motive ▪ justification ▪ pretextThese are all words for a cause or an explanation for something that has happened or that somebody has done.reason a cause or an explanation for something that has happened or that somebody has done; a fact that makes it right or fair to do something: 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 something has happened; a reason given for something: 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 (rather formal) a good or true reason for saying, doing or believing something: You have no grounds for complaint.你没有理由抱怨。 basis (rather formal) the reason why people take a particular action: 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 something that you want to do for other reasons: 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。 motive a reason that explains somebody’s behaviour: There seemed to be no motive for the murder.这起谋杀案看不出有什么动机。 justification (rather formal) a good reason why something exists or is done: I can see no possible justification for any further tax increases.我看不出还能提出什么理由再加税。 grounds or justification?Justification is used to talk about finding or understanding reasons for actions, or trying to explain why it is a good idea to do something. It is often used with words like little, no, some, every, without, and not any. Grounds is used more for talking about reasons that already exist, or that have already been decided, for example by law: moral/economic grounds.pretext (rather formal) a false reason that you give for doing something, usually something bad, in order to hide the real reason: 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 something the reason/motive behind something on the grounds/basis/pretext of/that… (a) good/valid reason/explanation/grounds/excuse/motive/justification Extra Examples He was acting from the highest motives when he offered her money.他给她钱是出于最高尚的目的。 He was suspicious of her motives in inviting him into the house.他对于她邀请他进屋的动机有所怀疑。 However you explain the motives behind his actions, he was still wrong.不管你如何解释他行为背后的动机，他仍旧是错了。 I did it for a variety of motives.我那样做有多种原因。 I'd say he had a very strong motive for wanting her dead.可以说他谋杀她的动机很强烈。 It it is clear that they were acting from motives of revenge.很明显，他们的行为是出于报复的动机。 She knew that he was inspired by base motives.她知道他动机卑鄙。 She should examine her motives for marrying him.她应该认真考虑自己为什么要嫁给他。 She was not sure what his underlying motives were.她吃不准他有什么潜在的动机。 The police are still trying to establish a motive for the attack.警方仍在试图确定袭击的目的。 There is no doubt about the motive behind it all.这一切背后的动机是毋庸置疑的。 There may be a hidden motive for his departure.也许他的离开有我们所不知道的原因。 There must be something which provided a motive for these killings.肯定有什么事提供了这些杀人凶案的动机。 There seemed to be no clear motive for the attack.这次攻击似乎没有明确的动机。 We give aid to other countries with mixed motives.我们援助他国是出于多种原因。 We've become adept at hiding our true motives.我们已经变得很善于隐藏自己的真实动机了。 What was their motive in setting fire to the building?他们放火烧大楼的动机是什么？ speculation that less noble motives were driving the country's foreign policy认为驱动该国外交政策的动机不够高尚的推测 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective hidden ulterior good … verb + motive be inspired by have establish … motive + verb drive somebody/something preposition motive in motive behind motive for … phrases a variety of motives Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French motif (adjective used as a noun), from late Latin motivus, from movere ‘to move’. mo·tive adjective /ˈməʊtɪv/ /ˈməʊtɪv/ [only before noun] (specialist) causing movement or action发动的；导致运动的 motive power/force (= for example electricity to operate machinery)原动力 Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French motif (adjective used as a noun), from late Latin motivus, from movere ‘to move’.
随便看	at any moment now at any price at any rate at-any-rate at a/one go \| at/in a single go at a pinch at a premium at a price at a push atar at a rate of knots at-arms-length at-a-single-cast at a (single) glance at a single glance at a single go \| at a go at a (single) stroke \| at one stroke at a single stroke \| at one stroke at a snail’s pace at a steady clip a taste/dose of your own medicine a taste of your own medicine at a stroke \| at one stroke at a tender age \| at the tender age of… at a/the crossroads