What does "motif" mean?

A recurring or dominant element; an artistic theme.

What is a synonym for "motif"?

Common synonyms include: theme, action, anagnorisis, angle, architectonics, architecture.

//moʊˈtiːf// noun

noun ·Common ·High school level

Noun

1
A recurring or dominant element; an artistic theme.
"See how the artist repeats the scroll motif throughout the work?"
2
a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration wordnet
3
A short melodic or lyrical passage that is repeated in several parts of a work.
4
a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work wordnet
5
A decorative figure that is repeated in a design or pattern.

Show 5 more definitions

6
a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music wordnet
7
A decorative appliqué design or figure, as of lace or velvet, used in trimming.
8
The physical object or objects repeated at each point of a lattice. Usually atoms or molecules.
9
A basic element of a move in terms of why the piece moves and how it supports the fulfilment of a stipulation.
10
In a nucleotide or aminoacid sequence, pattern that is widespread and has, or is conjectured to have, a biological significance.