Prime mover

Prime mover may refer to:

• A machine that transforms energy from thermal, electrical or pressure form to mechanical form, typically an engine or turbine

Philosophy and theology

• The prime mover, primum movens, an unmoved mover in the philosophy of Aristotle, later used by Saint Thomas Aquinas in his cosmological arguments, as a "first cause" of existence

Social Science Theory

• A hypothetical person that has a significant impact on society and history due to the exercise of their free will, unfettered by external psychological influences or social forces; also the name of the theory that affirms the existence and possibility of such people.

Railways

• Prime mover (locomotive), a component of a locomotive

Haulage

• Tractor unit or towing engine, a vehicle that provides the motive power to haul a load, as in:
  • Semi-trailer truck in Australian English
  • Ballast tractor, a heavy haulage road vehicle designed to pull or push heavy or exceptionally large loads
  • Artillery tractor, a military vehicle hauling an artillery piece
  • Steam tractor, a vehicle powered by a steam engine which is used for pulling
  • Tractor, a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds

Entertainment

• Prime Mover (film), a 2009 Australian romantic crime film set in Dubbo
• An episode of The Twilight Zone, "The Prime Mover"
• Prime Mover, the 1987 hit single from Zodiac Mindwarp
• Prime Mover, the title of a song on Rush's 1987 album Hold Your Fire
• Prime Mover, the title of a 1988 album from the band Kerry Livgren
• Prime Mover (videogame), a videogame published by Psygnosis in 1993
• The Prime Movers, a quasi-omniscient race of alien superbeings in the Buck Godot comic series by Phil Foglio
• The Prime Movers (Michigan band), a 60's band featuring a pre-Stooges Iggy Pop
• The Prime Movers (Los Angeles band), a predecessor band of Dread Zeppelin
• The Prime Movers (British band), a band founded by Graham Day of The Prisoners
• Prime Mover (comics), a fictional character in the Marvel Universe