mosaic

¹ American  

[moh-zey-ik] / moʊˈzeɪ ɪk /

noun

1. a picture or decoration made of small, usually colored pieces of inlaid stone, glass, etc.

2. the process of producing such a picture or decoration.

3. something resembling such a picture or decoration in composition, especially in being made up of diverse elements.

   a mosaic of borrowed ideas.

4. Also called photomosaic.  Also called aerial mosaic,.  Surveying. an assembly of aerial photographs matched in such a way as to show a continuous photographic representation of an area mosaic map.

5. Architecture. (in an architectural plan) a system of patterns for differentiating the areas of a building or the like, sometimes consisting of purely arbitrary patterns used to separate areas according to function but often consisting of plans of flooring, reflected ceiling plans, overhead views of furnishings and equipment, or other items really included in the building or building plan.

6. Also called mosaic disease.  Plant Pathology. any of several diseases of plants, characterized by mottled green or green and yellow areas on the leaves, caused by certain viruses.

7. Biology. an organism exhibiting mosaicism.

8. Television. a light-sensitive surface in a television camera tube, consisting of a thin mica sheet coated on one side with a large number of small globules of silver and cesium insulated from each other. The image to be televised is focused on this surface and the resulting charges on the globules are scanned by an electron beam.

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adjective

1. pertaining to, resembling, or used for making a mosaic or mosaic work.

   a mosaic tile.

2. composed of a combination of diverse elements.

verb (used with object)

mosaicked, mosaicking

1. to make a mosaic of or from.

2. to decorate with mosaic.

Mosaic ² American  

[moh-zey-ik] / moʊˈzeɪ ɪk /

Sometimes Mosaical

adjective

1. of or relating to Moses or the writings, laws, and principles attributed to him.

   Mosaic ethics.

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Mosaic ¹ British  

/ məʊˈzeɪɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to Moses or the laws and traditions ascribed to him

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mosaic ² British  

/ məˈzeɪɪk, məˈzeɪɪsɪst /

noun

1. a design or decoration made up of small pieces of coloured glass, stone, etc

2. the process of making a mosaic

3. 1. a mottled yellowing that occurs in the leaves of plants affected with any of various virus diseases

   2. Also called: mosaic disease.  any of the diseases, such as tobacco mosaic , that produce this discoloration

4. genetics another name for chimera

5. an assembly of aerial photographs forming a composite picture of a large area on the ground

6. a light-sensitive surface on a television camera tube, consisting of a large number of granules of photoemissive material deposited on an insulating medium

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mosaic Scientific  

/ mō-zā′ĭk /

1. Any of various viral diseases of plants, resulting in light and dark areas in the leaves, which often become shriveled and dwarfed.

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mosaic Cultural  

1. A picture or design made from small pieces of colored tile, glass, or other material set in mortar. Mosaics have been widely used in Christian churches to decorate walls and ceilings.

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Other Word Forms

• mosaically adverb
• mosaicist noun
• post-Mosaic adjective
• premosaic adjective

Etymology

Origin of mosaic¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French mosaïque, from Italian mosaico, from Medieval Latin musaicum, re-formation of Late Latin musīvum (opus), Latin musēum, musaeum “mosaic work,” of obscure origin; variants may show an assumed relationship with Greek mouseîon “shrine of the Muses, museum” by analogy with archī(v)um “archive” though classical Greek word is not attested in the sense “mosaic”; museum, archive

Origin of Mosaic²

1655–65; < New Latin Mosaicus, equivalent to Late Latin Mōs ( ēs ) Moses + -aicus, on the model of Hebraicus Hebraic

Example Sentences

Researchers studying what has been called one of the most important mosaics ever found in the UK say it portrays a rarely told version of the Trojan War that had largely faded from history.

From Science Daily

It was the moment the United States lost what could have been one of its greatest advantages: a rich mosaic of multi-generational heritage language speakers.

From Salon

Which is how our team of five ends up squished in a four-person booth, surrounded by mosaic tiles and plastic leafy plants—a style Camille calls “Tuscany meets Target.”

From Literature

This has always been the female face of Syria, a society often described as a mosaic of many traditions.

From BBC

Underfoot, a Roman-style black-and-white mosaic features a dove, a lion and a serpent—the house’s spirit guardian.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• patchwork