1) German literature term 2) Leitmotif 3) Line 4) Melodic line 5) Melodic phrase 6) Melody 7) Recurrent theme 8) Strain 9) Tune 1) Leitmotif 
(German: `leading motive`), recurring musical theme appearing usually in operas but also in symphonic poems. It is used to reinforce the dramatic ... [5 related articles]
[n] - a melodic phrase that accompanies the reappearance of a person or situation (as in Wagner`s operas)
in music, a recurring musical theme that accompanies a character or situation; in drama, then, the repetition of a word or phrase or image (from the German meaning “leading motive”).
leitmotif noun a melodic phrase that accompanies the reappearance of a person or situation (as in Wagner`s operas)
‘Light motif’; a short thematic musical passage representing a character or situation in a musical drama. Wagner used this tool often in his operas: the fire motive in The Valkyries, and the glance motive in Tristan and Isolde, for example.
A short musical phrase associated with a particular character or event.
the representation of characters, typical situations and recurrent ideas by musical motifs