motif

Từ điển American Heritage Dictionary 4th

mo·tif (mō-tēfʹ)n.
1.
a. A recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work.
b. A dominant theme or central idea.
2. Music. A short rhythmic or melodic passage that is repeated or evoked in various parts of a composition.
3. A repeated figure or design in architecture or decoration. See Synonyms at figure. [French, from Old French, motive. See motive.]

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  theme, motive