Brownian motor

noun

A nanoscale or molecular device by which thermally activated processes (chemical reactions) are controlled and used to generate directed motion in space and to do mechanical or electrical work.

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Meanings

nounBrownian motor (plural Brownian motors)

plural Brownian motors

  1. A nanoscale or molecular device by which thermally activated processes (chemical reactions) are controlled and used to generate directed motion in space and to do mechanical or electrical work.

Origin

Coined by Peter Hänggi in 1995, in reference to Brownian motion.

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Cite this entry
APA

Brownian motor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Brownian%20motor

MLA

“Brownian motor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Brownian%20motor. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Brownian motor,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Brownian%20motor.

Source: Brownian motor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.