When is a motor not a motor (was Re: Transmissions)

["Peter VanDerWal" <peter_vanderwal@msn.com>]

>An engine and a motor are not the same thing. A motor converts energy to
>mechanical force and motion. An engine takes a medium with the potential to
>become energy and converts it to mechanical force an motion. Webster is
wrong
>(kinda) if you don't read between the lines of the definition.
>
>An ICE is an engine - not a motor.
>--


Says who?
What a word means, is whatever people agree it means.  For the majority of
the English speaking world a motor is whatever Webster's, or a similar,
dictionary says it is.  Webster's, and  the majority of the English speaking
people, consider an ICE a motor.

I checked four different dictionaries and they all define an ICE as BOTH a
motor and an engine. In fact three out of four specifically define an
automotive engine as a motor.  This leads to words like MOTORcycle,
MOTORscooter, MOTORboat, MOTORcar, MOTORvehicle and MOTORhome the vast
majority of which are NOT powered by electric engines (also a dictionary
correct term).

Now; on this email list, the majority of people (I believe)  agree that a
Motor uses electricity and an Engine uses some other form of fuel.
Personally I think these definitions are a good idea since it cuts down on
confusion.

My point is you can't go around telling people that a Motor only uses
electricity because that's the way you like it defined.  If you go down to
the local ICE race track and tell them that none of their cars have motors
in them ... be prepared for them to disagree.  And, since the majority
rules, you will be wrong.