noun
1.
the object influencing a choice or prompting an action
trying to discover what was his motive in killing the girl
Synonyms: cause, consideration, reason, spring; compare stimulus
Related Word: antecedent, determinant; emotion, feeling, passion; aim, end, intent, intention, purpose
2.
Synonyms: figure 3, design, device, motif, pattern
3.
Synonyms: subject 2, argument, head, matter, motif, point, subject matter, text, theme, topic