The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word MOTIF
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
M
O
T
I
F
More clues leading to the result MOTIF
- Doctor rejected attack – a distinctive idea
- Dominant idea or word from French Count’s prison island
- Test for car, one following distinctive pattern
- Army doctor has wobbly about decorative design
- Design symbol, second on short row
- Design made of three interlocking figures primarily
- Symbol in, perhaps, Persian he backed to preface poem
- Nice word provided theme
- Design test on famous poem
- Theme: books and some poetry by male
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "a distinctive idea" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a distinctive idea = motif.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does MOTIF mean?
MOTIF noun- A recurring or dominant element; a theme.
- A short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work.
- A decorative figure that is repeated in a design or pattern.
- A decorative appliqué design or figure, as of lace or velvet, used in trimming.
- The physical object or objects repeated at each point of a lattice. Usually atoms or molecules.
- A basic element of a move in terms of why the piece moves and how it supports the fulfilment of a stipulation.
- In a nucleotide or amino-acid sequence, pattern that is widespread and has, or is conjectured to have, a biological significance.