motif

mo·tif

noun \mō-ˈtēf\

Definition of MOTIF

1

: a usually recurring salient thematic element (as in the arts); especially : a dominant idea or central theme

2

: a single or repeated design or color

— mo·tif·ic \-ˈtē-fik, -ˈti-\ adjective

Examples of MOTIF

1. The wallpaper has a flower motif.
2. <the motif of mute figures standing in lonely isolation is a recurrent one in the artist's works>
3. … a hip awareness of its own cheesy implausibility, right down to the music: The thunderously orchestrated score uses “Itsy Bitsy Spider” as a motif. —People, 29 July 2002
4. In retrospect, it is now clear that the alien invasion motif in 1950s science fiction movies reflected the Cold War atmosphere of the period. —Paul A. Cantor, Gilligan Unbound, 2001
5. The first-class scowl, shaved head and scars on his right shoulder and biceps fit the tough-guy motif, but it's a facade. —Ric Bucher, ESPN, 28 May 2001
6. The branding is done by combining a commercial trademark with one or another subcultural motif, a subculture the buyer belongs to or wants to join: surfing, skateboarding, … —John Seabrook, New Yorker, 20 Sept. 1999

Origin of MOTIF

French, motive, motif, from Middle French — more at motive

First Known Use: 1848

Related to MOTIF

Synonyms: content, matter, motive, question, subject, theme, topic

Related Words: subject matter; talking point; count, idea, point, purpose; consideration, issue, problem; body, bulk, burden, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, fundamental, generality, gist, grist, heart, kernel, keynote, main, marrow, mass, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, purport, quick, staple, substance, sum; basis; bottom, essential, essentiality; affair, argument, debate

Near Antonyms: aside, digression, excursion, interjection, parenthesis, tangent

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Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

Rhymes with MOTIF

bay leaf, belief, crew chief, debrief, drop leaf, endleaf, enfeoff, fig leaf, fire chief, flyleaf, gold leaf, in brief, in chief, kerchief, loose-leaf, massif, naïf, O'Keeffe, red leaf, relief, sharif, shinleaf, sneak thief, Tallchief