Motive or motif may refer to: In a creative work: Motif (music), a perceivable or salient recurring fragment or succession of notes Motif (narrative), any recurring element in a story that's symbolic significance Motif (textile arts), a recurring element or fragment that, when joined together, creates a larger work Motif (visual arts), a recurrent theme or pattern Motive art movement, a philosophical artistic movement started by the artist Blake Ward In biochemistry: Sequence motif, a s… (More on Motives)