theme

[theem] /θim/
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, especially a school composition.
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.
Compare stem1 (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), themed, theming.
9.
to provide with a theme.
Origin of theme
1250-1300; Middle English teme, theme (< Old French teme) < Medieval Latin thema, Latin < Greek théma proposition, deposit, akin to tithénai to put, set down
Related forms
themeless, adjective
subtheme, noun
Synonyms
1. thesis, text. See subject. 3. paper.
Examples from the web for themes
  • The two principle themes, totem and taboo, which gave the name to this small book are not treated alike here.
  • His dynamic quality reveals itself in the themes he essays as well as in his characters.
  • These three events, occurring at intervals of one hundred years, supplied the central themes of the three tales.
  • It is impossible, of course, to name a date as that at which new methods were employed and new themes sung.
  • He wrote too many on occasional themes and theological polemics.
  • Some of the audience struggled to make sense of the rollercoaster-ride of disconnected themes and motifs.
  • And indeed all of these themes are already the subject of other government schemes.
  • All the themes reappear and there is a wild final section which ends abruptly.
  • The following themes and concepts are central to interpreting the text.
  • These themes are explored through symbols throughout the novella.
British Dictionary definitions for themes

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 root1 (sense 9), stem1 (sense 9)
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
9.
(transitive) to design, decorate, arrange, etc, in accordance with a theme
Derived Forms
themeless, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Latin thema, from Greek: deposit, from tithenai to lay down
Word Origin and History for themes

theme

n.

c.1300, from Old French tesme (13c., with silent -s-), from Latin thema "a subject, thesis," from Greek thema "a proposition, subject, deposit," literally "something set down," from root of tithenai "put down, place," from PIE root *dhe- "to put, to do" (see factitious). Extension to music first recorded 1670s; theme song first attested 1929. Theme park is from 1960.

themes in Culture

theme definition


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.