theme

Noun · Verb

Synonyms: subject topic motif melodic theme musical theme idea composition paper report root root word base

WordNet 3.0

Noun (5)

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
a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work“it was the usual `boy gets girl' theme”Synonyms: motif
(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: melodic theme musical theme idea
an essay (especially one written as an assignment)“he got an A on his composition”Synonyms: composition paper report
(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed“thematic vowels are part of the stem”Synonyms: root root word base stem radical

Verb (1)

provide with a particular theme or motive“the restaurant often themes its menus”

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Theme \Theme\, n. [OE. teme, OF. teme, F. th[`e]me, L. thema, Gr. ?, fr. ? to set, place. See Do, and cf. Thesis.]

1.A subject or topic on which a person writes or speaks; a proposition for discussion or argument; a text. [1913 Webster]

My theme is alway one and ever was.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

And when a soldier was the theme, my name Was not far off.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.Discourse on a certain subject. [1913 Webster]

Then ran repentance and rehearsed his theme.— Piers Plowman.[1913 Webster]

It was the subject of my theme.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

3.A composition or essay required of a pupil. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

4.(Gram.) A noun or verb, not modified by inflections; also, that part of a noun or verb which remains unchanged (except by euphonic variations) in declension or conjugation; stem. [1913 Webster]

5.That by means of which a thing is done; means; instrument. [Obs.] --Swift. [1913 Webster]

6.(Mus.) The leading subject of a composition or a movement. [1913 Webster]