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What Bizarre Error Gave California Its Name?When the Spanish first began exploring the Pacific Coast of North America, they mistakenly believed that California was an island. (Some of the earliest and most fascinating maps of the state depict it as separated from the mainland.) This is considered one of the greatest, albeit short-lived, cartographic errors. Early mapmakers began labeling the “island” as California, the name of a mythical island in a book …
Nearby words
mosaic disease, mosaic glass, mosaic gold, mosaic inheritance, mosaic law, mosaic map, mosaic vision, mosaic wart, mosaicism, mosaicist, mosasaur
Origin of mosaic map
First recorded in 1915–20
Definition for mosaic map (2 of 2)
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.
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, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for mosaic map (1 of 2)
Mosaic
Mosaical
/ (məʊˈzeɪɪk) /
adjective
of or relating to Moses or the laws and traditions ascribed to him
British Dictionary definitions for mosaic map (2 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
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 map
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 map
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 map
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.