theme

[theem]

noun

1. a subject of discourse, discussion, meditation, or composition; topic.

   The need for world peace was the theme of the meeting.

   Synonyms: text, thesis

2. a unifying or dominant idea, motif, etc., as in a work of art.

3. a short, informal essay, especially a school composition.

   Synonyms: paper

4. Music.

   1. a principal melodic subject in a musical composition.

   2. a short melodic subject from which variations are developed.

5. Grammar.,  the element common to all or most of the forms of an inflectional paradigm, often consisting of a root with certain formative elements or modifications.

6. Linguistics.,  topic.

7. Also an administrative division of the Byzantine Empire.

adjective

1. having a unifying theme.

   a theme restaurant decorated like a spaceship.

verb (used with object)

themed, theming 

1. to provide with a theme.

theme

/ θiːm /

noun

1. an idea or topic expanded in a discourse, discussion, etc

2. (in literature, music, art, etc) a unifying idea, image, or motif, repeated or developed throughout a work

3. music a group of notes forming a recognizable melodic unit, often used as the basis of the musical material in a composition

4. a short essay, esp one set as an exercise for a student

5. linguistics the first major constituent of a sentence, usually but not necessarily the subject. In the sentence history I do like, "history" is the theme of the sentence, even though it is the object of the verb

6. grammar another word for root 1 stem 1

7. (in the Byzantine Empire) a territorial unit consisting of several provinces under a military commander

8. (modifier) planned or designed round one unifying subject, image, etc

   a theme holiday

verb

1. (tr) to design, decorate, arrange, etc, in accordance with a theme

theme

1. A central idea in a piece of writing or other work of art: “The theme of desperation is found throughout his novels.” Also a short composition assigned to a student as a writing exercise.

Other Word Forms

• themeless adjective
• subtheme noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of theme¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English teme, theme (from Old French teme ), from Medieval Latin thema, Latin, from Greek théma “proposition, deposit,” akin to tithénai “to put, set down”

Word History and Origins

Origin of theme¹

C13: from Latin thema, from Greek: deposit, from tithenai to lay down

Synonym Study

See subject.

Example Sentences

The animation style and language is Western all the way, but the story, themes and especially the songs align with Korean culture.

From Salon

He experimented with a wide range of styles and themes in his long career, most notably inspiring Cubism, of which his 1937 work Weeping Woman is a leading example.

From BBC

The late director, who specialized in romances that frequently had political themes, would become a frequent Redford collaborator and the first to direct his friend, in 1966’s “This Property is Condemned.”

From Los Angeles Times

Griswold hopes the exhibit is a way to marry some of the wonder and technology of a theme park with the natural awe of an 87-acre botanical garden.

From Los Angeles Times

And while the show itself is inspired by history, its themes have never felt more relevant than they do now.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• argument 
• line 
• matter 
• motif 
• point 
• problem 
• question 
• stuff 
• subject 
• text 
• thought 
• topic