motif

Pronunciation: /moʊˈtiːf/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration
  2. noun a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music
  3. noun a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work

Etymology

From French motif (1848), with the meaning of "main idea or theme". Doublet of motive.

In classic literature

Synonyms

motive

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
design

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