perpetuum mobile

/pəːˌpɛtjʊəm ˈməʊbɪleɪ//pəːˌpɛtjʊəm ˈməʊbɪli/

noun

A perpetual motion machine.

OriginLatin perpetuum →
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Meanings

nounperpetuum mobile (plural perpetua mobilia)

plural perpetua mobilia

  1. A perpetual motion machine.
  2. entertainmentPieces of music, or parts of pieces, characterised by a continuous steady stream of notes, usually at a rapid tempo.
  3. entertainmentWhole pieces, or large parts of pieces, which are to be played repeatedly, often an indefinite number of times.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
moto perpetuo

Origin

  1. Latinperpetuum
  2. Englishperpetuum mobile

From Latin perpetuum (neutral inflection of perpetuus “perpetual”) + Latin mōbile (neutrum of mōbilis “mobile, moving”), used together as a noun, thus literally meaning “perpetual mover”. Although often said to literally mean “perpetual motion”, the latter in Latin is mōtus perpetuus. A perpetuum mobile is a device that exhibits perpetual motion.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

perpetuum mobile. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perpetuum%20mobile

MLA

“perpetuum mobile.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perpetuum%20mobile. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “perpetuum mobile,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perpetuum%20mobile.

Source: perpetuum mobile on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.