mosaic

[ moh-zey-ik ]

/ moʊˈzeɪ ɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR mosaic ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

the process of producing such a picture or decoration.

something resembling such a picture or decoration in composition, especially in being made up of diverse elements: a mosaic of borrowed ideas.

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

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.

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.

Biology. an organism exhibiting mosaicism.

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.

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.

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 formsmo·sa·i·cal·ly, adverbpre·mo·sa·ic, adjective

Definition 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 formspost-Mo·sa·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mosaic

The Lennon Wall in Admiralty is a mosaic of Post-It notes, each square a scribbled wish.
The Monuments Men of Occupy Hong Kong|Brendon Hong|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The mosaic too looks to her eyes more like a work of the 1st than the 4th century B.C.
Amphipolis Tomb Yields Amazing Finds But Mysteries Linger|James Romm|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The result is a mosaic of spectra, covering up to 60 different regions.
SAMI Is Like Google Earth for the Universe|Matthew R. Francis|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is what has created the mosaic of plots that we know today, and that was pretty much already in place a thousand years ago.
The Next UNESCO World Heritage Site: Burgundy’s Pinot Noir Country?|Jordan Salcito|May 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I compare it to laying a mosaic on my hands and knees, putting in each color very slowly.
Armistead Maupin Bids Farewell to 'Tales'|Tim Teeman|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before her was a little Venetian mosaic table, and on it a tea-tray.
Dr. Dumany's Wife|Mr Jkai
Hence the Italian musaico, the French mosaique, and our English mosaic.
Notes and Queries, No. 179. Saturday, April 2, 1853.|Various
The miracles of the gospel could not astonish a people who held with intrepid faith the more splendid prodigies of the Mosaic law.
The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire|Edward Gibbon
Let the Mosaic law, life for a life Pay the long standing debt of blood.
Custer, and Other Poems.|Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Add to these the old Mosaic "Ten," and you have my religious creed complete.
Stage Confidences|Clara Morris

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 Formsmosaicist (məˈzeɪɪsɪst), noun

Word 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

Word Origin and History for mosaic (1 of 2)

mosaic

c.1400, from Old French mosaicq "mosaic work," from Italian mosaico, from Medieval Latin musaicum "mosaic work, work of the Muses," noun use of neuter of musaicus "of the Muses," from Latin Musa (see muse). Medieval mosaics were often dedicated to the Muses. The word formed in Medieval Latin as though from Greek, but the (late) Greek word for "mosaic work" was mouseion (Klein says this sense was borrowed from Latin). Figurative use is from 1640s. As an adjective in English from 1580s. Related: Mosaicist.

Word Origin and History for mosaic (1 of 2)

Mosaic

adj.

"pertaining to Moses," 1660s (earlier Mosaical, 1560s), from Modern Latin Mosaicus, from Moses.

Medicine definitions for mosaic

mosaic

[ mō-zā′ĭk ]

adj.

Patterned in small squares; tesselated.

n.

An organism exhibiting mosaicism.

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.

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.

mosaic

noun

adjective

verb (used with object), mo·sa·icked, mo·sa·ick·ing.

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Nearby words

Origin of mosaic

Definition for mosaic (2 of 2)

Mosaic

adjective

Origin of Mosaic

Examples from the Web for mosaic

British Dictionary definitions for mosaic (1 of 2)

mosaic

noun

Word Origin for mosaic

British Dictionary definitions for mosaic (2 of 2)

Mosaic

Mosaical

adjective

Word Origin and History for mosaic (1 of 2)

mosaic

Word Origin and History for mosaic (1 of 2)

Mosaic

Medicine definitions for mosaic

mosaic

adj.

n.

Science definitions for mosaic

mosaic

Culture definitions for mosaic

mosaic