What is the meaning of motive?

noun

• 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.
  • usage: "we did not understand his motivation"; "he acted with the best of motives"
  • synonyms: motivation, need
• A theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music.
  • synonyms: motif
• A design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration.
  • synonyms: motif

adjective

• Causing or able to cause motion.
  • usage: "a motive force"; "motive power"; "motor energy"
  • synonyms: motor
• Impelling to action.
  • usage: "it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function- Arthur Pap; "motive pleas"; "motivating arguments"
  • synonyms: motivative, motivating