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- Dictionarymotif/məʊˈtiːf/
noun
- 1. a decorative image or design, especially a repeated one forming a pattern: "the colourful hand-painted motifs which adorn narrowboats" Similar
- 2. a dominant or recurring idea in an artistic work: "superstition is a recurring motif in the book" Similar
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The meaning of MOTIF is a usually recurring salient thematic element (as in the arts); especially : a dominant idea or central theme. How to use motif in a sentence. What exactly is a motif? And how is it different from a leitmotif?
MOTIF definition: 1. a pattern or design: 2. an idea that is used many times in a piece of writing or music: 3. a…. Learn more.
a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work. a distinctive and recurring form, shape, figure, etc., in a design, as in a painting or on wallpaper. a dominant idea or feature: Pulmonary problems were a grim motif in his life.
Motif Definition. Motif is an object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work. Motif and Theme. In a literary work, a motif can be seen as an image, sound, action, or other figures that has a symbolic significance, and contributes toward the development of a theme.
an idea that is used many times in a piece of writing or music: The motif of betrayal is crucial in all these stories. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. (Definition of motif from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press) motif | Intermediate English. noun [ C ] us / moʊˈtif / Add to word list.
In art, a motif is a design or pattern that repeats in different parts of an artwork, or in different works by the same artist. While these additional meanings of motif are useful to know, motifs in literature function differently and have a slightly more specific meaning.
Think about a pattern or design that moves throughout something when you hear motif. Have you ever been to a restaurant with a tropical or Wild West motif? Do you like dresses with a floral motif? In novels, a motif can be a recurring idea like revenge or an object that symbolizes an idea.
