motto

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mot·to

(mŏt′ō)

n. pl. mot·toes or mot·tos

A brief statement used to express a principle, goal, or ideal: "We explain that when someone is cruel, or acts like a bully, you don't stoop to their level—no, our motto is 'when they go low, we go high'" (Michelle Obama).

[Italian, word, motto, probably from Vulgar Latin *mōttum, word; see mot.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

motto

(ˈmɒtəʊ)

n, pl -toes or -tos

1. (Heraldry) a short saying expressing the guiding maxim or ideal of a family, organization, etc, esp when part of a coat of arms

2. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a short explanatory phrase inscribed on or attached to something

3. (Poetry) a verse or maxim contained in a paper cracker

4. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a quotation prefacing a book or chapter of a book

5. (Music, other) a recurring musical phrase

[C16: via Italian from Latin muttum utterance]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

mot•to

(ˈmɒt oʊ)

n., pl. -toes, -tos.

1. a maxim adopted as an expression of one's guiding principle.

2. a phrase or word expressing the spirit or purpose of a group, often inscribed on a badge, banner, etc.

[1580–90; < Italian < Late Latin muttum utterance. compare mot]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun

motto - a favorite saying of a sect or political group

catchword, shibboleth, slogan

locution, saying, expression - a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; "pardon the expression"

catch phrase, catchphrase - a phrase that has become a catchword

mantra - a commonly repeated word or phrase; "she repeated `So pleased with how its going' at intervals like a mantra"

rallying cry, war cry, watchword, battle cry, cry - a slogan used to rally support for a cause; "a cry to arms"; "our watchword will be `democracy'"

motto

noun saying, slogan, maxim, rule, cry, formula, gnome, adage, proverb, dictum, precept, byword, watchword, tag-line What is your regiment's motto?

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

motto

noun

1. A usually pithy and familiar statement expressing an observation or principle generally accepted as wise or true:

adage, aphorism, byword, maxim, proverb, saw, saying.

2. A rallying term used by proponents of a cause:

battle cry, call to arms, call to battle, cry, rallying cry, war cry.

Translations

شِعارشِعار داخِل عُلْبَة تسالي يوم الميلاد

motoprůpovídkatéma

mottovalgsprogvisdomsord

Motto Sentenz Spruch

lema mote divisa

mottotunnuslausevaalilause

devise épigraphe

jelmondatmottó

einkunnarorîspakmæli

motto aforisma

devizasmotošmaikštus pamokymas

devīzeizteiciensmototeiciens

motto valgspråk visdomsord

lema

mottoveršík

düsturniyet özdeyiş

座右铭格言箴言警句

motto

[ˈmɒtəʊ] N (mottoes or mottos (pl))

1. [of family, person] → lema m

2. (Heraldry) → divisa f

3. (= watchword) → consigna f

4. (in cracker) (= joke) → chiste m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

motto

[ˈmɒtəʊ] [mottoes] (pl) n

[school, regiment] → devise f

(= guiding principle) → devise f

motto

n pl <-es> → Motto nt, → Wahlspruch m; (personal also) → Devise f; (Her also) → Sinnspruch m; (in cracker, on calendar) → Spruch m; the school motto → das Motto der Schule

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

motto

[ˈmɒtəʊ] n (mottoes (pl)) → motto

motto

(ˈmotəu) – plural ˈmottoes – noun

1. (a short sentence or phrase which expresses) a principle of behaviour etc. `Honesty is the best policy' is my motto; a school motto.

2. a printed saying etc, often found inside a Christmas cracker.

References in classic literature ?

It had a window of good size, iron-grated; a small stove; two wooden chairs; two oaken tables, very old and most elaborately carved with names, mottoes, faces, armorial bearings, etc.--the work of several generations of imprisoned students; and a narrow wooden bedstead with a villainous straw mattress, but no sheets, pillows, blankets, or coverlets--for these the student must furnish at his own cost if he wants them.

View in context

He drew portraits, with a piece of coal, of the cardinal; and as his talents did not enable him to produce a very good likeness, he wrote under the picture that there might be little doubt regarding the original: "Portrait of the Illustrious Coxcomb, Mazarin." Monsieur de Chavigny, the governor of Vincennes, waited upon the duke to request that he would amuse himself in some other way, or that at all events, if he drew likenesses, he would not put mottoes underneath them.

View in context

We are going to decorate the hall with creeping spruce and fir mottoes with pink tissue-paper roses in them.