theme meaning and definition

THEME noun

Definition of theme (noun)

1. the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
   • "he didn't want to discuss that subject"; "it was a very sensitive topic"; "his letters were always on the theme of love"
   • synonyms: subject, topic
2. a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work
   • "it was the usual `boy gets girl' theme"
   • synonyms: motif
3. (music) melodic subject of a musical composition
   • "the theme is announced in the first measures"; "the accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it"
   • synonyms: idea, melodic theme, musical theme
4. an essay (especially one written as an assignment)
   • "he got an A on his composition"
   • synonyms: composition, paper, report
5. (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
   • "thematic vowels are part of the stem"
   • synonyms: base, radical, root, root word, stem

THEME verb

Definition of theme (verb)

1. provide with a particular theme or motive
   • "the restaurant often themes its menus"