What does motif mean?
Definitions for motif
moʊˈtifmo·tif
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word motif.
Princeton's WordNet
motif, motivenoun
a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration
motif, motivenoun
a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music
theme, motifnoun
a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work
"it was the usual `boy gets girl' theme"
GCIDE
Motifnoun
In literature and the fine arts, a salient feature or element of a composition or work; esp., the theme, or central or dominant feature; specif. (Music), a motive. See also leitmotif.
Motifnoun
(Dressmaking) A decorative appliqu
Wiktionary
motifnoun
A recurring or dominant element; a theme.
See how the artist repeats the scroll motif throughout the work?
motifnoun
A short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
motifnoun
A decorative figure that is repeated in a design
motifnoun
The physical object or objects repeated at each point of a lattice. Usually atoms or molecules.
Etymology: From French motif (1848), with the meaning of main idea or theme
Webster Dictionary
Motifnoun
motive
Etymology: [F.]
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Motif
mō-tēf′, n. an old form of motive: a theme or ground for intellectual action, or a leading subject in a dramatic work: in a musical composition the principal subject on which the movement is constructed. [Fr.,—L. motus, moved.]
Suggested Resources
motif
Song lyrics by motif -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by motif on the Lyrics.com website.
British National Corpus
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'motif' in Nouns Frequency: #2608
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of motif in Chaldean Numerology is: 6
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of motif in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9
Examples of motif in a Sentence
It really is celebratory about movies and yet it's kind of cheeky in a way, but yet it has a beautiful musical motif which... we integrate throughout the show as kind of a call-back theme.
This bar dates back to 1947, it used to be a brothel and gay hotspot, then the owner decided to adopt the phallus motif, which was an ancient Greek symbol of sexual potency and fertility, to reaffirm the virility of Sicilian men. It also brings good luck.
The souvenir plays on Marx's criticism of capitalism and of course the 0-euro note fits perfectly with Marx as a motif.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
Translations for motif
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- motiuCatalan, Valencian
- motivCzech
- MotivGerman
- μοτίβοGreek
- motivoSpanish
- aihio, kuvio, motiivi, aiheFinnish
- motifFrench
- ùrlarScottish Gaelic
- մոտիվArmenian
- 主題, モチーフJapanese
- motivoPortuguese
- мотивRussian
- motivSwedish
- 主题Chinese
Get even more translations for motif »
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"motif." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. Web. 26 Mar. 2023. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/motif>.
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