Motif

n.	1.	Motive.
	2.	(Music) In literature and the fine arts, a salient feature or element of a composition or work; esp., the theme, or central or dominant feature; This motif, of old things lost, is a favorite one for the serious ballade. - R. M. Alden. The design . . . is . . . based on the peacock - a motif favored by decorative artists of all ages. - R. D. Benn.
	3.	(Dressmaking) A decorative appliqué design or figure, as of lace or velvet, used in trimming; also, a repeated design.

Noun	1.	motif - a design that consists of recurring shapes or colors
	2.	motif - a theme that is elaborated on in a piece of music Synonyms: motive
	3.	motif - a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work; "it was the usual `boy gets girl' theme" Synonyms: theme

Motif - The standard graphical user interface and window manager from OSF, running on the X Window System.

action, anagnorisis, angle, architectonics, architecture, argument, atmosphere, background, background detail, basis, beading, binding, bordering, bordure, burden, case, catastrophe, chapter, characterization, color, complication, concept, concern, continuity, contrivance, convention, decoration, decorative composition, decorative style, denouement, design, detail, development, device, edging, element, episode, essence, fable, falling action, figure, fimbria, fimbriation, flounce, focus of attention, focus of interest, foil, foreground detail, form, frill, frilling, fringe, furbelow, galloon, gimmick, gist, head, heading, hem, idea, incident, issue, leitmotif, leitmotiv, line, list, living issue, local color, main point, matter, matter in hand, meat, mood, motive, movement, mythos, national style, ornament, ornamental motif, pattern, period style, peripeteia, phrase, plan, plot, point, point at issue, point in question, problem, question, recognition, refrain, repeated figure, rising action, rubric, ruffle, scheme, secondary plot, selvage, setting, skirting, slant, story, structure, style, subject matter, subject of thought, subplot, substance, switch, text, thematic development, theme, tone, touch, trimming, twist, valance, welt