1.  theme(n = noun.communication) subject, topic - 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"
is a kind of content, message, subject matter, substance
has particulars: bone of contention, precedent, head, question, keynote
Derived form adjective thematic₁

2.  theme(n = noun.cognition) motif - a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work; "it was the usual `boy gets girl' theme"
is a kind of idea, thought
has particulars: topos
Derived form adjective thematic₁

3.  theme(n = noun.communication) idea, melodic theme, musical theme - (music) melodic subject of a musical composition; "the theme is announced in the first measures"; "the accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it"
is a kind of air, line, melodic line, melodic phrase, melody, strain, tune
has particulars: motif, motive, statement, variation
Derived form adjective thematic₂

4.  theme(n = noun.communication) composition, paper, report - an essay (especially one written as an assignment); "he got an A on his composition"
is a kind of essay
has particulars: term paper

5.  theme(n = noun.communication) base, radical, root, root word, stem - (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed; "thematic vowels are part of the stem"
is a kind of descriptor, form, signifier, word form

   theme(v = verb.possession) - provide with a particular theme or motive; "the restaurant often themes its menus"
is one way to furnish, provide, render, supply
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

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

2.  Discourse on a certain subject. [1913 Webster]
"Then ran repentance and rehearsed his theme." [1913 Webster]
"It was the subject of my theme." [1913 Webster]

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

4.  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. Swift. [1913 Webster]

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

theme, n.
1 a subject or topic on which a person speaks, writes, or thinks.
2 Mus. a prominent or frequently recurring melody or group of notes in a composition.
3 US a school exercise, esp. an essay, on a given subject.
4 Gram. the stem of a noun or verb; the part to which inflections are added, esp. composed of the root and an added vowel.
5 hist. any of the 29 provinces in the Byzantine empire.

Idiom:
theme park an amusement park organized round a unifying idea. theme song (or tune)
1 a recurrent melody in a musical play or film.
2 a signature tune.

Etymology:
ME teme ult. f. Gk thema -matos f. tithemi set, place

N  dissertation, treatise, essay, thesis, theme, monograph, tract, tractate, tractation, discourse, memoir, disquisition, lecture, sermon, homily, pandect, excursus, commentary, review, critique, criticism, article, leader, leading article, editorial, running commentary, investigation, study, discussion, exposition, commentator, critic, essayist, pamphleteer, discursive, discoursive, disquisitionary, expository.

N  topic, subject of thought, material for thought, food for the mind, mental pabulum, subject, subject matter, matter, theme, noemata, topic, what it is about, thesis, text, business, affair, matter in hand, argument, motion, resolution, head, chapter, case, point, proposition, theorem, field of inquiry, moot point, problem, thought of, uppermost in the mind, in petto, under consideration, in question, in the mind, on foot, on the carpet, on the docket, on the tapis, relative to.

N  teaching, instruction, edification, education, tuition, tutorage, tutelage, direction, guidance, opsimathy, qualification, preparation, training, schooling, discipline, excitation, drill, practice, book exercise, persuasion, proselytism, propagandism, propaganda, indoctrination, inculcation, inoculation, advise, explanation, lesson, lecture, sermon, apologue, parable, discourse, prolection, preachment, chalk talk, Chautauqua, exercise, task, curriculum, course, course of study, grammar, three R's, initiation, A, B, C, elementary education, primary education, secondary education, technical education, college education, collegiate education, military education, university education, liberal education, classical education, religious education, denominational education, moral education, secular education, propaedeutics, moral tuition, gymnastics, calisthenics, physical drill, physical education, sloyd, phonics, rote, rote memorization, brute memory, cooperative learning, Montessori method, ungraded classes, test, examination, exam, final exam, mid-term exam grade, score, marks, A, B, C, D, E, F, gentleman's C, pass, fail, incomplete, homework, take-home lesson, exercise for the student, theme, project, teaching, taught, educational, scholastic, academic, doctrinal, disciplinal, instructive, instructional, didactic, propaedeutic, propaedeutical, the schoolmaster abroad, a bovi majori disscit arare minor, adeo in teneris consuecere multum est, docendo discimus, quaenocent docent, qui docet discit, sermons in stones and good in everything.

melodic theme, musical theme, theme and variations, theme park, theme song