motif

1 a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) the motif of mute figures standing in lonely isolation is a recurrent one in the artist's works Synonyms content, matter, motive, question, subject, theme, topicRelated 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, debateNear Antonyms aside, digression, excursion, interjection, parenthesis, tangent

2 a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) the fabric for the upholstery features a scallop shell motif Synonyms design, figure, pattern, motiveRelated Words scheme; device; adornment, caparison, decoration, embellishment, frill, garnish, ornament, trim