Motif

Pronunciation

• IPA: /məʊˈtiːf/

• Rhymes: -iːf

Origin

From French motif (1848), with the meaning of main idea or theme

Full definition of motif

Noun

1. A recurring or dominant element; a theme.See how the artist repeats the scroll motif throughout the work?
2. (music) A short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
3. A decorative figure that is repeated in a design
4. (crystallography) The physical object or objects repeated at each point of a lattice. Usually atoms or molecules.

Related terms

• motive