Definitions for motifmoʊˈtif
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
mo•tifmoʊˈtif(n.)
a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., esp. in a literary, artistic, or musical work.
a distinctive and recurring form, shape, figure, etc., in a design.
Origin of motif:
1840–50; < F; see motive
Princeton's WordNet
motif, motive(noun)
a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration
motif, motive(noun)
a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music
theme, motif(noun)
a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work
"it was the usual `boy gets girl' theme"
Wiktionary
motif(Noun)
A recurring or dominant element; a theme.
See how the artist repeats the scroll motif throughout the work?
motif(Noun)
A short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
motif(Noun)
A decorative figure that is repeated in a design
motif(Noun)
The physical object or objects repeated at each point of a lattice. Usually atoms or molecules.
Origin: From French motif (1848), with the meaning of main idea or theme
Webster Dictionary
Motif(noun)
motive
Translations for motif
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary
pattern(noun)
a repeated decoration or design on material etc
The dress is nice but I don't like the pattern.
- patroonAfrikaans

- نَقْش، رَسْمArabic

- моделBulgarian

- padrãoPortuguese (BR)

- vzorekCzech

- das MusterGerman

- mønsterDanish

- σχέδιοGreek

- modeloSpanish

- musterEstonian

- طرحFarsi

- kuvioFinnish

- motifFrench

- דֶגֶםHebrew

- सजावटHindi

- uzorak, krojCroatian

- mintázatHungarian

- polaIndonesian

- mynsturIcelandic

- disegno, motivoItalian

- 模型Japanese

- 형식 무늬Korean

- raštasLithuanian

- raksts, ornamentsLatvian

- corakMalay

- tekeningDutch

- mønsterNorwegian

- wzórPolish

- طرحPersian

- ماډل،دیزاینPashto

- padrãoPortuguese

- modelRomanian

- рисунок, узорRussian

- vzorkaSlovak

- vzorecSlovenian

- dezenSerbian

- mönsterSwedish

- ลวดลายThai

- desen, motifTurkish

- 式樣Chinese (Trad.)

- малюнок, візерунокUkrainian

- نقش، بيل بوٹےUrdu

- hoa vănVietnamese

- 式样Chinese (Simp.)

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