Theme vs. Pattern — What's the Difference?

A topic of discourse or discussion.

A pattern is a regularity in the world, in human-made design, or in abstract ideas. As such, the elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable manner.

A subject of artistic representation.

A usually repeating artistic or decorative design

An implicit or recurrent idea; a motif

A natural or accidental arrangement or sequence

A short composition assigned to a student as a writing exercise.

A plan, diagram, or model to be followed in making things

(Music) A recurring melodic element in a composition, especially a melody forming the basis of a set of variations.

A model or original used for imitation or as an archetype.

See topic.

A composite of traits or features characteristic of an individual or a group

A stem.

Form and style in an artistic work or body of artistic works.

A subject, now especially of a talk or an artistic piece; a topic.

The configuration of gunshots upon a target that is used as an indication of skill in shooting.

A recurring idea; a motif.

The distribution and spread, around a targeted region, of spent shrapnel, bomb fragments, or shot from a shotgun.

A concept with multiple instantiations.

Enough material to make a complete garment.

Any of various colors, or color palettes, in which a design is offered; (GUI) any of various skins for an app, affecting the visuals and perhaps other elements such as sound effects.

A test pattern.

(dated) An essay written for school.

The flight path of an aircraft about to land

(music) The main melody of a piece of music, especially one that is the source of variations.

(Football) A pass pattern.

A song, or a snippet of a song, that identifies a film, a TV program, a character, etc. by playing at the appropriate time.

To make, mold, or design by following a pattern

(grammar) The stem of a word.

To cover or ornament with a design or pattern.

(linguistics) thematic relation of a noun phrase to a verb.

To make a pattern.

(linguistics) Theta role in generative grammar and government and binding theory.

Model, example.

(linguistics) Topic, what is generally being talked about, as opposed to rheme.

Something from which a copy is made; a model or outline.

A regional unit of organisation in the Byzantine empire.

Someone or something seen as an example to be imitated; an exemplar.

(transitive) To give a theme to.

A copy.

To apply a theme to; to change the visual appearance and/or layout of (software).

A sample; of coins, an example which was struck but never minted.

A subject or topic on which a person writes or speaks; a proposition for discussion or argument; a text.

A representative example.

Discourse on a certain subject.

(US) The material needed to make a piece of clothing.

A composition or essay required of a pupil.

(textiles) The paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out and assembling.

A noun or verb, not modified by inflections; also, that part of a noun or verb which remains unchanged (except by euphonic variations) in declension or conjugation; stem.

A full-sized model around which a mould of sand is made, to receive the melted metal. It is usually made of wood and in several parts, so as to be removed from the mould without damage.

That by means of which a thing is done; means; instrument.

(computing) A text string containing wildcards, used for matching.

The leading subject of a composition or a movement.

A design pattern.

The subject matter of a conversation or discussion;

Coherent or decorative arrangement.

A unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work;

A design, motif or decoration, especially formed from regular repeated elements.

(music) melodic subject of a musical composition;

A naturally-occurring or random arrangement of shapes, colours etc. which have a regular or decorative effect.

An essay (especially one written as an assignment);

The given spread, range etc. of shot fired from a gun.

(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed;

A particular sequence of events, facts etc. which can be understood, used to predict the future, or seen to have a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship.

Provide with a particular theme or motive;

(linguistics) An intelligible arrangement in a given area of language.

A sequence of notes, percussion etc. in a tracker module, usable once or many times within the song.

To apply a pattern.

To make or design (anything) by, from, or after, something that serves as a pattern; to copy; to model; to imitate.

To follow an example.

To fit into a pattern.

(transitive) To serve as an example for.

To observe an animal closely over time in order to discern its habitual movements and behaviours.

(MLE) To arrange, to organise, to fix.

Of or in accordance with a usual pattern, or type; model; ideal.

Anything proposed for imitation; an archetype; an exemplar; that which is to be, or is worthy to be, copied or imitated; as, a pattern of a machine.

A part showing the figure or quality of the whole; a specimen; a sample; an example; an instance.

Stuff sufficient for a garment; as, a dress pattern.

Figure or style of decoration; design; as, wall paper of a beautiful pattern.

Something made after a model; a copy.

Anything cut or formed to serve as a guide to cutting or forming objects; as, a dressmaker's pattern.

A full-sized model around which a mold of sand is made, to receive the melted metal. It is usually made of wood and in several parts, so as to be removed from the mold without injuring it.

A recognizable characteristic relationship or set of relationships between the members of any set of objects or actions, or the properties of the members; also, the set having a definable relationship between its members.

A diagram showing the distribution of the pellets of a shotgun on a vertical target perpendicular to the plane of fire.

The recommended flight path for an airplane to follow as it approaches an airport for a landing. Same as landing pattern.

An image or diagram containing lines, usually horizontal, vertical, and diagonal, sometimes of varying widths, used to test the resolution of an optical instrument or the accuracy of reproduction of image copying or transmission equipment. Same as test pattern.

To make or design (anything) by, from, or after, something that serves as a pattern; to copy; to model; to imitate.

To serve as an example for; also, to parallel.

A perceptual structure;

A customary way of operation or behavior;

A decorative or artistic work;

Something regarded as a normative example;

A model considered worthy of imitation;

Something intended as a guide for making something else;

The path that is prescribed for an airplane that is preparing to land at an airport;

Graphical representation (in polar or cartesian coordinates) of the spatial distribution of radiation from an antenna as a function of angle

Plan or create according to a model or models

Form a pattern;