intarsia
noun
in·tar·sia
in-ˈtär-sē-ə 
1
: a mosaic usually of wood fitted into a support
also
: the art or process of making such a mosaic
2
: a colored design knitted on both sides of a fabric
Examples of intarsia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The two teams exchanged ideas on how to create challenging wood inlays and wood intarsias.
—
Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 June 2025
Details include inside-out effect shoulder seams, and a silk intarsia inside-out effect label on the back.
—Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2021
The floor-length red-and-black floral dress, for instance, an intarsia of four different laces that took 1,500 hours to hand-stitch; or the 800 hours that were needed for an emerald-and-white silk plissé number, an incredible confection of flou and fan pleats anchored to an inner corset.
—Mark Holgate, Vogue, 13 Apr. 2021
There was ample evidence of Mr. Browne’s fixation on techniques like quilting, cabling and intarsia and with turning garments inside-out (notably, a pair of sleeves worn as a bustle).
—New York Times, 7 Oct. 2020
Matte-finish tiles were printed with motifs referencing centuries-old intarsia and majolica patterns, and designers liked the idea of using them in contemporary spaces.
—Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2019
Especially atmospheric is the Piazza delle Tre Chiese, three churches, one of which, San Francesco, has altars of polychrome intarsia.
—Frances Mayes, National Geographic, 11 July 2019
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Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 June 2025
Details include inside-out effect shoulder seams, and a silk intarsia inside-out effect label on the back.
—Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2021
The floor-length red-and-black floral dress, for instance, an intarsia of four different laces that took 1,500 hours to hand-stitch; or the 800 hours that were needed for an emerald-and-white silk plissé number, an incredible confection of flou and fan pleats anchored to an inner corset.
—Mark Holgate, Vogue, 13 Apr. 2021
There was ample evidence of Mr. Browne’s fixation on techniques like quilting, cabling and intarsia and with turning garments inside-out (notably, a pair of sleeves worn as a bustle).
—New York Times, 7 Oct. 2020
Matte-finish tiles were printed with motifs referencing centuries-old intarsia and majolica patterns, and designers liked the idea of using them in contemporary spaces.
—Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2019
Especially atmospheric is the Piazza delle Tre Chiese, three churches, one of which, San Francesco, has altars of polychrome intarsia.
—Frances Mayes, National Geographic, 11 July 2019
Cite this Entry
“Intarsia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intarsia. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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