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

1. \Mo"tif\, n. [F.]
   Motive.
   

2. \Mo`tif"\, n. [F.]
   1. In literature and the fine arts, a salient feature or
      element of a composition or work; esp., the theme, or
      central or dominant feature; specif. (Music), a motive.
            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.
   2. (Dressmaking) A decorative appliqu['e] design or figure,
      as of lace or velvet, used in trimming.
   

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

1. Recurring characteristic or theme.
2. The smallest group of atoms in a polymer that, when under the influence of a rotation-translation operator, will assemble the rest of the atoms in the chain.