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”

OTHER WORDS FROM mosaic

mo·sa·i·cal·ly, adverb pre·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

OTHER WORDS FROM Mosaic

post-Mo·sa·ic, adjective

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
  1. a mottled yellowing that occurs in the leaves of plants affected with any of various virus diseases
  2. 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), 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

Medical definitions for mosaic

mosaic
[ mō-zāĭk ]

adj.

Patterned in small squares; tesselated.

n.

An organism exhibiting mosaicism.

Scientific definitions for mosaic

mosaic
[ mō-zāĭk ]

Any of various viral diseases of plants, resulting in light and dark areas in the leaves, which often become shriveled and dwarfed.

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.