theme
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++theme /θiːm/ ●●● S2 W2 AWL noun [countable] 1 SUBJECTsubject 主题 the main subject or idea in a piece of writing, speech, film etc 主题 The book’s theme is the conflict between love and duty. 本书的主题是爱与责任之间的冲突。main/central/major etc theme Campbell has made health care a central theme in his campaign. 坎贝尔在竞选活动中把医疗保健作为中心主题。 Nature is a recurrent theme (=a theme that appears repeatedly) in Frost’s poetry. 大自然是弗罗斯特诗作中反复出现的一个主题。 Most of Kurt’s other pictures were variations on the same theme. 库尔特的其他大部分画作都是同一主题的变奏。2 theme music/song/tune music or a song that is often played during a film or musical play, or at the beginning and end of a television or radio programme 主题音乐/主题歌/主题曲 the theme song from ‘The Brady Bunch’ 《欢乐家庭》的主题曲3 APMrepeated tune 重复的曲调 a short simple tune that is repeated and developed in a piece of music 主调；主旋律 Freia’s theme in Wagner’s opera 瓦格纳歌剧中的弗莱雅主旋律4 style 风格 a particular style 特定的风格 Her bedroom is decorated in a Victorian theme. 她的卧室是维多利亚时代风格装饰。5 piece of writing 作文 American EnglishSES old-fashioned a short piece of writing on a particular subject that you do for school 〔以某一特定题目写作的〕作文，短论文 SYN essaytheme on Your homework is to write a two-page theme on pollution. 你们的家庭作业是就污染问题写一篇两页的作文。n COLLOCATIONSadjectivesthe main/central/dominant themeThe main theme of the book is the importance of honesty.a major themeCultural change is the second major theme of his work.a common themeDeath and rebirth is a common theme in Eliot’s poetry.a recurrent/recurring theme (=one that appears several times)Returning to traditional values was a major theme of the president’s speech.an underlying theme (=one that is important but not very noticeable)One of the book’s underlying themes is the struggle for human rights.a universal theme (=subjects that affect people of all races and cultures)Readers everywhere can relate to the universal themes in his work.phrasesvariations on a theme (=things with a similar basic subject, style etc)Most of her short stories are variations on the theme of tragedy.Examples from the Corpus
theme• The first is the ability to communicate: to find a theme, to focus on an agenda.• The play's central theme is greed and its corrupting effects.• The supple interplay of major themes will furnish it with the exhilarating sense of a mind meticulous but free.• George Eliot shows real concern for religious and moral themes.• a two-page theme on pollution• The conference's theme is education and training.• But before I take up that theme let me try to get closer to the ground.• She asks the host to describe the theme of the meeting and the desired length of the speech.• And not only do the themes recur, but they overlap.• I really like the theme song to the "Mary Tyler Moore Show."• One of the themes of the book is the relationship between people and nature.• Tartan patterns and plaids are applications of this theme.• The master bedroom is decorated in a Victorian theme.variations on ... theme• There are many variations on this theme.• Many variations on the combination theme can be put into practice.• There are numerous variations on these basic themes to suit soil, climate, and the main farming enterprises.• All kinds of variations on this theme can occur.• The aim should be flexibility within a structure; variations on a theme.• For me, it was the most teasing of all things, variations on a theme, slight changes.• The dealers themselves started working variations on the theme.Origin theme (1200-1300) Latin thema, from Greek, “something laid down, theme”, from tithenai “to put”theme noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChinese
in Corpus piece or a idea subject main the
See themed for more
theme
theme S2 W2 AC /θiːm/ 
noun [countable]
The book’s theme is the conflict between love and duty.
main/central/major etc theme
Campbell has made health care a central theme in his campaign.
Nature is a recurrent theme (=a theme that appears repeatedly) in Frost’s poetry.
Most of Kurt’s other pictures were variations on the same theme.
2. theme music/song/tune music or a song that is often played during a film or musical play, or at the beginning and end of a television or radio programme:
the theme song from ‘The Brady Bunch’
3. REPEATED TUNE a short simple tune that is repeated and developed in a piece of music:
Freia’s theme in Wagner’s opera
4. STYLE a particular style:
Her bedroom is decorated in a Victorian theme.
5. PIECE OF WRITING American English old-fashioned a short piece of writing on a particular subject that you do for school
SYN essay
theme on
Your homework is to write a two-page theme on pollution.
■ adjectives
▪the main/central/dominant theme The main theme of the book is the importance of honesty.
▪a major theme Cultural change is the second major theme of his work.
▪a common theme Death and rebirth is a common theme in Eliot’s poetry.
▪a recurrent/recurring theme (=one that appears several times) Returning to traditional values was a major theme of the president’s speech.
▪an underlying theme (=one that is important but not very noticeable) One of the book’s underlying themes is the struggle for human rights.
▪a universal theme (=subjects that affect people of all races and cultures) Readers everywhere can relate to the universal themes in his work.
■ phrases
▪variations on a theme (=things with a similar basic subject, style etc) Most of her short stories are variations on the theme of tragedy.
themed /θiːmd/ (also theme) adjective [usually before noun]
a themed place or event has been designed to make people who go there feel like they are in a particular place or historical period:
themed restaurants such as the Rainforest Café
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noun [countable] Date: 1200-1300
Language: Latin
Origin: thema, from Greek, 'something laid down, theme', from tithenai 'to put'
1. SUBJECT the main subject or idea in a piece of writing, speech, film etc:Language: Latin
Origin: thema, from Greek, 'something laid down, theme', from tithenai 'to put'
main/central/major etc theme
2. theme music/song/tune music or a song that is often played during a film or musical play, or at the beginning and end of a television or radio programme:
3. REPEATED TUNE a short simple tune that is repeated and developed in a piece of music:
4. STYLE a particular style:
5. PIECE OF WRITING American English old-fashioned a short piece of writing on a particular subject that you do for school
SYN essay
theme on
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(also theme) adjective [usually before noun]a themed place or event has been designed to make people who go there feel like they are in a particular place or historical period:
Being a writer 当作家
write/publish literature/poetry/fiction/a book/a story/a poem/a novel/a review/an autobiography写／发表文学作品／诗集／小说／书／故事／诗歌／长篇小说／评论／自传 become a writer/novelist/playwright成为作家／小说家／剧作家 find/have a publisher/an agent找到／有出版商／代理人 have a new book out出版一部新书 edit/revise/proofread a book/text/manuscript编辑／修订／校对书／文章／原稿 dedicate a book/poem to…把一本书／一首诗献给…
Plot, character and atmosphere 情节、人物和氛围
construct/create/weave/weave sth into a complex narrative构思／创作／编写／把某事编成一部复杂的叙事小说 advance/drive the plot推进故事情节的发展 introduce/present the protagonist/a character介绍主人公／一个人物 describe/depict/portray a character (as…)/(sb as) a hero/villain描述人物／英雄／坏蛋；把一个人物描绘成…；把某人描绘成英雄／坏蛋 create an exciting/a tense atmosphere营造一种令人兴奋／紧张的气氛 build/heighten the suspense/tension制造／增加悬念／紧张气氛 evoke/capture the pathos of the situation唤起对这种状况的同情 convey emotion/an idea/an impression/a sense of…传达…情感／思想；给人…印象／感觉 engage the reader吸引读者 seize/capture/grip the (reader's) imagination抓住（读者的）想象力 arouse/elicit emotion/sympathy (in the reader)唤起（读者的）情感／同情 lack imagination/emotion/structure/rhythm缺乏想象力／情感／精心组织／节奏感
Language, style and imagery 语言、风格和形象语言
use/employ language/imagery/humour/( humor/an image/a symbol/a metaphor/a deviceespecially
使用语言／形象语言／幽默／意象／象征／暗喻／手段 use/adopt/develop a style/technique使用／采用／形成一种风格／技巧 be rich in/be full of symbolism富含象征意义 evoke images of…/a sense of…/a feeling of…唤起…的形象／感觉 create/achieve an effect创造／取得效果 maintain/lighten the tone维持／缓和基调 introduce/develop an idea/a theme引入／发展一种思想／一个主题 inspire a novel/a poet/sb's work/sb's imagination促成小说的创作；给诗人以灵感；促成某人作品的诞生；激发某人的想象力
Reading and criticism 阅读与评论
read an author/sb's work/fiction/poetry/a text/a poem/a novel/a chapter/a passage读一个作家的作品／某人的著作／小说／诗集／一篇文章／一首诗／一部小说／一个章节／一段文章 review a book/a novel/sb's work评论一本书／一部小说／某人的作品 give sth/get/have/receive a good/bad review给予／得到好评／恶评 be hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiece被誉为一部杰作 quote a phrase/line/stanza/passage/author引用一个短语／一行诗／一节诗／一段文章／作者的话 provoke/spark discussion/criticism引发讨论／评论 study/interpret/understand a text/passage研读／解读／理解一篇文章／一段文章 translate sb's work/a text/a passage/a novel/a poem翻译某人的作品／一篇文章／一段文章／一部小说／一首诗