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; tessera, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

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

From Literature

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

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

From BBC

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

From BBC

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

Related Words

• decorate