[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/motif/)

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# motif

noun (a motif, motifs)

«motif» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A pattern or picture that is repeated in a design, such as on fabric or wallpaper: a flower motif. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/#m1)
2. An idea, image or theme that keeps coming back in a story, film or piece of music. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/#m2)
3. (music) A short group of notes repeated in a piece. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/#m3)

### In the lessons

In art and design lessons, pupils create a motif and repeat it to make a pattern (printing, tiles). In English lessons, a motif is a repeated symbol in a story (for example, the colour red or a storm). In music, a motif is a short tune idea. Phrases: a flower motif, recurring motif, repeat the motif.

### Examples

- We printed a leaf motif across the fabric. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/#x1)
- The T-shirt has a star motif on the front. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/#x2)
- Light and dark is a motif in the story. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/#x3)
- Repeat your motif to make a pattern. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/#x4)
- The tiles have a blue wave motif. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/#x5)
- That four-note motif comes back again and again in the music. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/#x6)
- The castle is a motif in many fairy tales. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/#x7)
- Parallels.--The lover visiting his spouse in guise of a bird, is a frequent motif in folk-tales. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/#x8)

### Note

Countable: motifs. Said moh-TEEF (from French). Do not confuse with «motive» (a reason for doing something), which looks similar. In maths art, repeating and reflecting a motif makes a tessellation or symmetry pattern.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «motif» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/motif/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«motif» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/motif.html) on Mova free.