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theme

 - 4 dictionary results

theme

  [theem] noun, adjective, verb, themed, them⋅ing.
Use theme in a Sentence
–noun
1. a subject of discourse, discussion, meditation, or composition; topic: The need for world peace was the theme of the meeting.
2. a unifying or dominant idea, motif, etc., as in a work of art.
3. a short, informal essay, esp. a school composition.
4. Music.
a. a principal melodic subject in a musical composition.
b. 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. Compare stem 1 (def. 16).
6. Linguistics. topic (def. 4).
7. Also, thema. an administrative division of the Byzantine Empire.
–adjective
8. having a unifying theme: a theme restaurant decorated like a spaceship.
–verb (used with object)
9. to provide with a theme.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME teme, theme (< OF teme) < ML thema, L < Gk théma proposition, deposit, akin to tithénai to put, set down

Related forms:
themeless, adjective

Synonyms:
1. thesis, text. See subject. 3. paper.

top⋅ic

  [top-ik]
–noun
1. a subject of conversation or discussion: to provide a topic for discussion.
2. the subject or theme of a discourse or of one of its parts.
3. Rhetoric, Logic. a general field of considerations from which arguments can be drawn.
4. Also called theme. Linguistics. the part of a sentence that announces the item about which the rest of the sentence communicates information, often signaled by initial position in the sentence or by a grammatical marker. Compare comment (def. 6).
Origin:
1560–70; < L topica (pl.) < Gk (tà) topiká name of work by Aristotle (lit., (things) pertaining to commonplaces), equiv. to tóp(os) commonplace + -ika, neut. pl. of -ikos -ic; see topo-

Synonyms:
2. thesis, subject matter. See subject.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To theme
theme   (thēm)   
n.  

  1. A topic of discourse or discussion. See Synonyms at subject.

  2. A subject of artistic representation.

  3. An implicit or recurrent idea; a motif: a theme of powerlessness that runs through the diary; a party with a tropical island theme.

  4. A short composition assigned to a student as a writing exercise.

  5. Music The principal melodic phrase in a composition, especially a melody forming the basis of a set of variations.

  6. Linguistics A stem.

  7. Linguistics See topic.

tr.v.   themed, them·ing, themes
Usage Problem To provide with a particular topic or motif. See Usage Note at themed.

[Middle English teme, theme, from Old French tesme, from Latin thema, from Greek; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]
theme'less adj.
top·ic   (tŏp'ĭk)   
n.  

  1. The subject of a speech, essay, thesis, or discourse.

  2. A subject of discussion or conversation.

  3. A subdivision of a theme, thesis, or outline. See Synonyms at subject.

  4. Linguistics A word or phrase in a sentence, usually providing information from previous discourse or shared knowledge, that the rest of the sentence elaborates or comments on. Also called theme.


[Obsolete topic, rhetorical argument, sing. of Topics, title of a work by Aristotle, from Latin Topica, from Greek Topika, commonplaces, from neuter pl. of topikos, of a place, from topos, place.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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