tessellate

American  

[tes-uh-leyt, tes-uh-lit, -leyt] / ˈtɛs əˌleɪt, ˈtɛs ə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /

Also tesselate

verb (used with object)

tessellated, tessellating

1. to form of small squares or blocks, as floors or pavements; form or arrange in a checkered or mosaic pattern.

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adjective

1. tessellated.

tessellate British  

/ ˈtɛsɪˌleɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to construct, pave, or inlay with a mosaic of small tiles

2. (intr) (of identical shapes) to fit together exactly

   triangles will tessellate but octagons will not

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Usage

What does tessellate mean? To tessellate is to form a pattern of shapes that fit together perfectly, without any gaps. The resulting pattern can be called a tessellation. Such a pattern can be described as tessellated. This often often refers to a pattern that includes a repetition of one particular shape, such as the repetition of squares in a checkerboard. But tessellations can also be formed from multiple shapes. For example, a classic black-and-white soccer ball is an example of a tessellation that consists of two different shapes: hexagons and pentagons. Tesselate can be used in the sense of someone doing the tessellating (as in I tessellated these squares to form a checkerboard) or things tessellating by themselves (as in The shapes tessellate to form a pattern.)A tessellation is a kind of mosaic. They’re often seen on surfaces that have been covered in tiles. That’s because floor and wall tiles are often designed so that they can tessellate—fit together perfectly, without any overlap or gaps. Less commonly, tessellate can be used as an adjective meaning the same thing as a tessellated. Tessellate is sometimes spelled with one l, as tesselate.[caption id="attachment_169801" align="alignnone" width="300"] Source: Getty. These hexagons have been tessellated to form a tessellation.[/caption]Example: Hexagons were tessellated together to form a honeycomb pattern on the side of the building.

Etymology

Origin of tessellate

First recorded in 1785–95; from Latin tessellātus “mosaic,” equivalent to tessell(a) “small square stone or cube” (diminutive of tessera + -ātus; see origin at tessera, -ate ¹

Explanation

To tessellate is to make a pattern using identical shapes, creating a consistent pattern like a honeycomb. Tessellating is a way of designing something — like the pattern of a floor, painting, or shirt—by repeating the same shapes over and over again. Tessellating creates a pattern that is usually pleasing. If you look around where you live, there is probably a tessellated pattern on the wallpaper or maybe in the bathroom tiles.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tessellate tessellated tessellating

You will note these two positions don't tessellate as neatly as they could.

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2023

I note those two positions don't tessellate as neatly as they could.

From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2023

They tessellate nicely, and up to about 6 feet he has no problems.

From Slate

The extensive complex, dating to the early 3rd to late 4th Centuries, included two bath-houses, complete with tessellated mosaic floors, and two 2nd-Century round houses.

From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2025

That geography is part of why the actual Biosphere 2 building looks so striking: Two ziggurats made of tessellated glass triangles are connected by a long, glass rectangular structure.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 10, 2023

“They look tiled or tessellated and are round or almost octagonal,” Pearce said.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 20, 2023

The display press has a tessellated rubber frame that presses down on the phone to seal a new waterproofing adhesive.

From The Verge ● Jun. 6, 2022

The background fabric was made of a tessellated pattern of triangles in shades of gray and blue.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

But aside from the concrete block buildings tessellating out into forever, Novosibirsk is actually more like Minneapolis.

From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2014

My 5 yr old just taught me what tessellating means. "it means no gaps dad".

From The Guardian ● Aug. 7, 2011

Related Words

• decorate