To motorize something means to add a motor or engine to it so it can move by mechanical power instead of human effort. When inventors motorized the bicycle in the late 1800s, they created the motorcycle. When farmers motorized their plows, they no longer needed horses to pull them through the fields.

You can motorize almost anything that moves. Someone might motorize a skateboard by attaching a small electric motor and battery, transforming it into a vehicle that can zip along without pushing. Wheelchair users can motorize their chairs so they travel by pressing controls instead of turning wheels by hand. Even something as simple as a window shade can be motorized so it raises and lowers at the touch of a button.

When something is motorized, it has been equipped with this power source. A motorized scooter moves on its own, while a regular scooter requires you to push with your foot. Motorizing things has changed how people work and travel, making tasks faster and less physically demanding. Before motorization, many jobs required strong muscles and long hours of exhausting work.