Meaning & use
example motif
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Meanings
nouncountable
A repeated image, idea, sound, or design that carries meaning in a work of art, music, or writing.
Grammar: Countable, so you can say 'a motif' or 'several motifs'; it is often followed by 'of' or 'in'.
Patterns
- a motif of something
- a motif in something
- recurring motif
- use a motif
The novel's central motif is water, which appears in every chapter.
A repeated rose motif runs through the wallpaper and the paintings.
The composer builds the whole piece from a three-note motif.
nouncountablemusicspecialist
A single short musical phrase that is repeated and developed throughout a piece.
Grammar: Used especially in classical music analysis; often appears with 'thematic' or 'musical' before it.
Patterns
- a musical motif
- a thematic motif
- develop a motif
Wagner links each character to a particular musical motif.
The four-note motif returns in the final movement.
nouncountable
A repeated decorative shape or pattern used in design, clothing, or architecture.
Grammar: Often used with words like 'floral', 'geometric', or 'repeated' before it.
Patterns
- a floral motif
- a geometric motif
- a repeated motif
The fabric has a small floral motif in blue and white.
Craftsmen carved the same geometric motif above every doorway.
Word forms
| plural | example motifs |
|---|
Common combinations
- a recurring motif
- Loss is a recurring motif in her poetry.
- a central motif
- The central motif of the film is the empty road.
- a floral motif
- The curtains are decorated with a floral motif.
- a musical motif
- He whistles the musical motif from the second movement.
- use a motif
- The director uses a red motif to signal danger.
Synonyms and how they differ
- theme
- Broader and often about the main subject or message of a work, while a motif is the repeated concrete element that expresses it.
- pattern
- Suggests regular repetition of shapes or events but carries no artistic meaning by itself.
- refrain
- A repeated line or phrase in a poem or song; a motif can be an image, sound, or design, not only words.
Word family
- motivic adjective
- Relating to a motif, used mainly in music writing.
Commonly confused: example motif or motive?
example motif vs motive
A motive is a reason for doing something, especially in crime; a motif is a repeated artistic element. The two words sound similar but are not interchangeable.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'motif' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Motif' means a repeated decorative or artistic element, so the wallpaper sentence fits. Option An and D confuse it with 'motive', a reason for acting, and C wrongly uses 'motif' as a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “example motif”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.