Dictionary

motif en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /moʊˈtiːf/

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. A recurring or dominant element; an artistic theme.
   • See how the artist repeats the scroll motif throughout the work?
2. A short melodic or lyrical passage that is repeated in several parts of a work.
3. A decorative figure that is repeated in a design or pattern.
4. A decorative appliqué design or figure, as of lace or velvet, used in trimming.
5. The physical object or objects repeated at each point of a lattice. Usually atoms or molecules.
6. A basic element of a move in terms of why the piece moves and how it supports the fulfilment of a stipulation.
7. In a nucleotide or aminoacid sequence, pattern that is widespread and has, or is conjectured to have, a biological significance.

Forms

Deriveds

minimotif · motifless · network motif · motivic · biomotif · motific · supermotif · pseudomotif · motifeme · submotif · BACH motif · antimotif · intermotif

Relateds

leitmotif · phosphomotif · motify · motive

Translations (51)

hu motívum (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · sv motiv (decorative figure that is repeated in a design) · ru моти́в (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · pl motyw (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · pt leitmotiv (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · el μοτίβο (decorative figure that is repeated in a design) · ja 主題 (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · nl motief (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · ja 主題 (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · es motivo (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · pt motivo (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · el μοτίβο (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · es motivo (nucleotide or amino-acid sequence pattern) · bg моти́в (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · fi aihe (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · ru моти́в (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · mi rerenga auau (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · fr motif (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · gl motivo (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · ja モチーフ (decorative figure that is repeated in a design) · pt motivo (nucleotide or amino-acid sequence pattern) · tr motif (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · fi aihe (decorative figure that is repeated in a design) · pt motivo (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · ru моти́в (decorative figure that is repeated in a design) · fi aihio (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · pt motivo (decorative figure that is repeated in a design) · de Motiv (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · tr motif (decorative figure that is repeated in a design) · cs motiv (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · fr motif (decorative figure that is repeated in a design) · de Motiv (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · sv motiv (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · tr örge (decorative figure that is repeated in a design) · es motivo (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · fr motif (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · hu motívum (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · el μοτίβο (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · gd ùrlar (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · fi motiivi (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · he מוֹטִיב (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · bg моти́в (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · ca motiu (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · io motivo (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · it motivo (nucleotide or amino-acid sequence pattern) · ca motiu (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · fr motif (nucleotide or amino-acid sequence pattern) · ja モチーフ (recurring or dominant element; a theme) · ja モチーフ (music: short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work) · fi kuvio (decorative figure that is repeated in a design) · de Motiv (decorative figure that is repeated in a design)