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/moʊˈtiːf/
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rhymes with -iːf
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CMU ARPABET:
M OW0 T IY1 F
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
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A recurring or dominant element; an artistic theme.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
See how the artist repeats the scroll motif throughout the work?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
A short melodic or lyrical passage that is repeated in several parts of a work.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
A decorative figure that is repeated in a design or pattern.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
A decorative appliqué design or figure, as of lace or velvet, used in trimming.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: business, dressmaking, manufacturing, textiles
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
The physical object or objects repeated at each point of a lattice. Usually atoms or molecules.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: chemistry, crystallography, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
A basic element of a move in terms of why the piece moves and how it supports the fulfilment of a stipulation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: board-games, chess, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
In a nucleotide or aminoacid sequence, pattern that is widespread and has, or is conjectured to have, a biological significance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, microbiology, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: motive
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: design, pattern, figure
a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
it was the usual `boy gets girl' theme
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: theme
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: idea, thought
Narrower terms: topos
a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: motive
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: theme, melodic theme, musical theme, idea
Narrower terms: obbligato, obligato
From French motif (1848), with the meaning of "main idea or theme". Doublet of motive.
Across languages
Translations 51 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian :
моти́в
(motív)
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Catalan :
motiu
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Czech :
motiv
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Dutch :
motief
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Finnish :
aihe
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
French :
motif
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Galician :
motivo
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
German :
Motiv
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Greek :
μοτίβο
(motívo)
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Hebrew :
מוֹטִיב
(motív)
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Hungarian :
motívum
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Japanese :
主題
(shudai)
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Japanese :
モチーフ
(mochīfu)
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Polish :
motyw
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Portuguese :
motivo
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Portuguese :
leitmotiv
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Russian :
моти́в
(motív)
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Scottish Gaelic :
ùrlar
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Spanish :
motivo
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Swedish :
motiv
— recurring or dominant element; a theme
Bulgarian :
моти́в
(motív)
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Catalan :
motiu
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Finnish :
motiivi
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Finnish :
aihio
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
French :
motif
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
German :
Motiv
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Greek :
μοτίβο
(motívo)
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Hungarian :
motívum
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Ido :
motivo
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Japanese :
主題
(shudai)
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Japanese :
モチーフ
(mochīfu)
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Māori :
rerenga auau
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Portuguese :
motivo
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Russian :
моти́в
(motív)
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Spanish :
motivo
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Turkish :
motif
— music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
Finnish :
aihe
— decorative figure that is repeated in a design
Finnish :
kuvio
— decorative figure that is repeated in a design
French :
motif
— decorative figure that is repeated in a design
German :
Motiv
— decorative figure that is repeated in a design
Greek :
μοτίβο
(motívo)
— decorative figure that is repeated in a design
Japanese :
モチーフ
(mochīfu)
— decorative figure that is repeated in a design
Portuguese :
motivo
— decorative figure that is repeated in a design
Russian :
моти́в
(motív)
— decorative figure that is repeated in a design
Swedish :
motiv
— decorative figure that is repeated in a design
Turkish :
motif
— decorative figure that is repeated in a design
Turkish :
örge
— decorative figure that is repeated in a design
French :
motif
— nucleotide or amino-acid sequence pattern
Italian :
motivo
— nucleotide or amino-acid sequence pattern
Portuguese :
motivo
— nucleotide or amino-acid sequence pattern
Spanish :
motivo
— nucleotide or amino-acid sequence pattern
