verb of motion

verb of motion (plural verbs of motion)

1. (grammar) A verb that describes movement on the part of the subject.

   Synonym: motion verb

   • 1993, Beth Levin, English Verb Classes and Alternations, page 15:

     For instance, dictionaries provide rather different definitions of the sense of the verb whistle found in the context The bullet whistled through the air. They seem unsure whether to treat this sense as involving a verb of sound or a verb of motion.