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.
QUIZZES
DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!
It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
Origin of mosaic
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”; see museum, archive
OTHER WORDS FROM mosaic
mo·sa·i·cal·ly, adverbpre·mo·sa·ic, adjectiveWords nearby mosaic
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
OTHER WORDS FROM Mosaic
post-Mo·sa·ic, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences 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 of mosaic
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
Medical 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.
Scientific 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.
Cultural 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.