motorless

5.3

Not having an engine, for example a toy moved by hand

adjective
/ˈmoʊtərləs/

: sin motor

After breaking down, they decided to complete their journey on a motorless bicycle, enjoying the fresh air.

Examples

By the way, motorless sailplanes are often launched into the air with a winch.

Blog text (1)
The vessel Tiburn Martillo had been refitted as a kind of motorless floating platform and was now ready for its assignment at the marine reserve near remote Wolf and Darwin Islands to the north.

Academic text (2009)
The two friends enjoyed a peaceful afternoon on their motorless sailboat, gliding across the calm lake.
He prefers using a motorless lawn mower because it is quieter and better for the environment.

Synonyms

unmotorized

vsmotorless

5.6

A vehicle like a bike or boat that does not use a motor

has identical meaning but is a different word form

engineless

vsmotorless

5.8

Not having an engine or motor

refers to lacking a motor more generally than lacking an engine

Antonyms

motorized

1 3.8

Having a motor that makes it move or work

How Motorized

self-propelled

4 4.9

motorized

1 3.8

motorless

5.3

Surface Forms

motorless positive

Morphology

motorless = motor (transparent) = motor + less

The meaning is directly derived from 'motor' + the productive suffix '-less' meaning 'without', so learners can infer 'without a motor'.

Etymology

The word motorless is made of motor, a 'machine that makes things move', and the ending -less, meaning 'without'. So, a motorless object simply has no motor and works without an engine, which is why a motorless glider can fly silently.