noun

1. Something recurring across a genre or type of art or literature, such as the ‘mad scientist’ of horror movies or the use of the phrase ‘once upon a time’ as an introduction to fairy tales; a motif.

2. A figure of speech in which words or phrases are used with a nonliteral or figurative meaning, such as a metaphor.

3. Mathematical senses.

verb

1. To use, or embellish something with, a trope.

2. Senses relating chiefly to art or literature.

3. To think or write in terms of tropes.

Synonyms: tropify