lightmotif
nounUK /ˈlaɪt məʊˌtiːf/
US /ˈlaɪt moʊˌtiːf/
A lightmotif is a short tune that keeps coming back in a piece of music.
The lightmotif played every time the hero appeared on stage.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A repeated idea or image that appears again and again in a story or artwork.
The red umbrella is a lightmotif throughout the film.
3. A small, bright decorative pattern used in design.
The wallpaper featured a lightmotif of tiny stars.
4. A recurring feeling or thought in someone's mind.
Hope was the lightmotif of her diary entries.