theme
UK: θiːm | US: θiːm
n. a central topic or subject of discussion
n. (music) a recurring melody or musical idea
n. (linguistics) the stem of a word to which inflections are added
The word "theme" originates from the Greek thema ("something laid down, proposition"), derived from tithenai ("to place, set"). The root the- reflects the idea of "placing" (e.g., thesis = "a placing"), while -ma forms nouns denoting results or concepts. Over time, "theme" evolved in Latin (thema) and Old French (teme) before entering English, shifting from a literal "placement" to abstract "topics" or "musical motifs."
The theme of the conference was sustainability.
The composer developed a beautiful theme in the symphony.
In Spanish, the verb stem serves as the theme for conjugation.
Her speech circled back to the central theme of unity.
The film’s dark theme contrasted with its colorful visuals.