Definition: A short musical idea, melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic, or all three. A motif may be of any size, but it is generally regarded as the smallest subdivision of a theme.
The Savvy Take: Think of Beethoven’s 5th (Da-da-da-DUM). That’s a motif. It’s the seed from which the whole tree grows. When you spot a motif repeating, bring it out so the audience can follow the breadcrumbs.