Wiktionary
n. An electric motor in which the equivalent of the stator and rotor are linear and parallel, normally one part is a vehicle and the other a track on which it moves
Wikipedia
A linear motor is an electric motor that has had its stator and rotor "unrolled" so that instead of producing a torque ( rotation) it produces a linear force along its length. However, linear motors are not necessarily straight. Characteristically, a linear motor's active section has ends, whereas more conventional motors are arranged as a continuous loop.
The most common mode of operation is as a Lorentz-type actuator, in which the applied force is linearly proportional to the current and the magnetic field $(\vec F = I \vec L \times \vec B)$.
Many designs have been put forward for linear motors, falling into two major categories, low-acceleration and high-acceleration linear motors. Low-acceleration linear motors are suitable for maglev trains and other ground-based transportation applications. High-acceleration linear motors are normally rather short, and are designed to accelerate an object to a very high speed, for example see the coilgun.
High-acceleration linear motors are typically used in studies of hypervelocity collisions, as weapons, or as mass drivers for spacecraft propulsion . They are usually of the AC linear induction motor (LIM) design with an active three-phase winding on one side of the air-gap and a passive conductor plate on the other side. However, the direct current homopolar linear motor railgun is another high acceleration linear motor design. The low-acceleration, high speed and high power motors are usually of the linear synchronous motor (LSM) design, with an active winding on one side of the air-gap and an array of alternate-pole magnets on the other side. These magnets can be permanent magnets or energized magnets. The Shanghai Transrapid motor is an LSM.
Usage examples of "linear motor".
Then, when the series of electromagnets are activated, they act as a linear motor, moving the sphere along faster and faster until it shoots out of the far end.
Taking gentle curves, it rolled easily, leaning on its air-bed as the linear motor whipped the machine on its way.
Forbin did not speak as his colleague climbed in, but waited until Fisher was settled, then stabbed the linear motor button.