Word
motif
Phoneticsmo·tif
US/moʊˈtif/
UK/məʊtˈiːf/
Definitions
01artistic theme
n. an idea or subject that appears again and again in a book, film, or painting.
n. a recurring thematic element or central idea that is developed throughout a literary or artistic work.
“The motif of water appears throughout the novel to represent change.”
“The author employs the motif of the ticking clock to heighten the sense of impending doom as the protagonist's deadline approaches.”
Academic
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the specific theme.
03music
n. a short group of notes that is repeated in a piece of music.
n. a short melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic figure that is repeated or developed throughout a musical composition.
“The composer used a four-note motif to represent the hero's arrival.”
“The symphony's opening motif is transformed through various keys and orchestrations, providing a sense of structural unity to the entire work.”
Technical
04science
n. a pattern in a chemical or biological structure that appears many times.
n. a recurring sequence in a macromolecule (such as a protein or DNA) that is associated with a particular biological function.
“Scientists identified a specific motif in the DNA that controls growth.”
“The researchers discovered a structural motif within the protein that allows it to bind effectively to the cell membrane.”
Technical
Real-World Examples
“This apparently harmless motif became in her hands a weapon of “self-obliteration”, spreading like measles across much of her work.” “The Wetar plaque provides the first evidence that these designs were also painted on portable objects, while its securely dated archaeological context provides a rare age for this characteristic motif.” Etymology
From French motif (1848), with the meaning of "main idea or theme". Doublet of motive.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/motif