mosaic
[ moh-zey-ik ]
/ moʊˈzeɪ ɪk /
noun
adjective
pertaining to, resembling, or used for making a mosaic or mosaic work: a mosaic tile.
composed of a combination of diverse elements.
verb (used with object), mo·sa·icked, mo·sa·ick·ing.
to make a mosaic of or from.
to decorate with mosaic.
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RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
moryah, moré, morón, mos, mos., mosaic, mosaic disease, mosaic glass, mosaic gold, mosaic inheritance, mosaic law
Origin of mosaic
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French mosaïque < Italian mosaico < Medieval Latin musaicum, re-formation of Late Latin musīvum (opus), Latin musēum, musaeum mosaic work (quantity of u uncertain), of obscure origin; variants may show an assumed relationship with Greek mouseîon shrine of the Muses, museum, by analogy with archī(v)um (see archive), though classical Gk word is not attested in sense “mosaic”
Related forms
mo·sa·i·cal·ly, adverbpre·mo·sa·ic, adjectiveDefinition for mosaic (2 of 2)
Mosaic
[ moh-zey-ik ]
/ moʊˈzeɪ ɪk /
adjective
of or relating to Moses or the writings, laws, and principles attributed to him: Mosaic ethics.
Sometimes Mo·sa·i·cal.
Origin of Mosaic
1655–65; < New Latin Mosaicus, equivalent to Late Latin Mōs(ēs) Moses + -aicus, on the model of Hebraicus Hebraic
Related forms
post-Mo·sa·ic, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for mosaic
British Dictionary definitions for mosaic (1 of 2)
mosaic
/ (məˈzeɪɪk) /
noun
a design or decoration made up of small pieces of coloured glass, stone, etc
the process of making a mosaic
- a mottled yellowing that occurs in the leaves of plants affected with any of various virus diseases
- Also called: mosaic disease any of the diseases, such as tobacco mosaic, that produce this discoloration
genetics another name for chimera (def. 4)
an assembly of aerial photographs forming a composite picture of a large area on the ground
a light-sensitive surface on a television camera tube, consisting of a large number of granules of photoemissive material deposited on an insulating medium
Derived Forms
mosaicist (məˈzeɪɪsɪst), nounWord Origin for mosaic
C16: via French and Italian from Medieval Latin mōsaicus, from Late Greek mouseion mosaic work, from Greek mouseios of the Muses, from mousa Muse
British Dictionary definitions for mosaic (2 of 2)
Mosaic
Mosaical
/ (məʊˈzeɪɪk) /
adjective
of or relating to Moses or the laws and traditions ascribed to him
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medicine definitions for mosaic
mosaic
[ mō-zā′ĭk ]
adj.
Patterned in small squares; tesselated.
n.
An organism exhibiting mosaicism.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for mosaic
mosaic
[ mō-zā′ĭk ]
Any of various viral diseases of plants, resulting in light and dark areas in the leaves, which often become shriveled and dwarfed.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Culture definitions for mosaic
mosaic
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.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.