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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. 4. A recurrent pattern either of molecular sequence, usually of nucleotides or amino acids in proteins, or of molecular structure that usually corresponds to specific biological activity. [French, from Old French, motive; see MOTIVE.] |
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