mosaic

1 of 4

noun

mo·​sa·​ic mō-ˈzā-ik How to pronounce mosaic (audio)
1
: a surface decoration made by inlaying small pieces of variously colored material to form pictures or patterns
also : the process of making it
2
: a picture or design made in mosaic
3
: something resembling a mosaic
a mosaic of visions and daydreams and memoriesLawrence Shainberg
4
: an organism or one of its parts composed of cells of more than one genotype : chimera sense 3
5
: any of numerous virus diseases of plants characterized by diffuse light and dark green or yellow and green mottling of the foliage compare tobacco mosaic virus
6
: a composite map made of photographs taken by an aircraft or spacecraft
7
: the part of a television camera tube consisting of many minute photoelectric particles that convert light to an electric charge
mosaiclike adjective

mosaic

2 of 4

adjective (1)

1
: of, relating to, produced by, or resembling a mosaic
2
: exhibiting mosaicism
3
mosaically adverb

mosaic

3 of 4

verb

mosaicked; mosaicking

transitive verb

1
: to decorate with mosaics
2
: to form into a mosaic

Mosaic

4 of 4

adjective (2)

Mo·​sa·​ic mō-ˈzā-ik How to pronounce Mosaic (audio)
: of or relating to Moses or the institutions or writings attributed to him
lived under the Mosaic Law

Examples of mosaic in a Sentence

Noun a church decorated with old mosaics a picture done in mosaic
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Grissom also made two mosaics for the entrances with the name of the school and its date of creation. Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2024 More specifically, the researchers utilized small mosaics consisting of a ring of hexagonal mirrors with an open space in the middle. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2024
Adjective
The Ghost actress wore a strapless, Oscar de la Renta red dress featuring a mosaic effect pattern with bright black, maroon and burgundy tiles. Catherine Santino, People.com, 20 Oct. 2024 Guests will be able to get their hands dirty by creating their own mosaic masterpiece to commemorate their time in Rome. Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mosaic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mosaic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English musycke, from Medieval Latin musaicum, alteration of Late Latin musivum, from Latin museum, musaeum

Adjective (2)

New Latin Mosaicus, from Moses Moses

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (1)

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1632, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mosaic was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near mosaic

Cite this Entry

“Mosaic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mosaic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

mosaic

noun
mo·​sa·​ic
mō-ˈzā-ik
1
: a decoration on a surface made by setting small pieces of glass, tile, or stone of different colors into another material so as to make pictures or patterns
2
: the process of making mosaics
3
: something resembling a mosaic
especially : a virus disease of plants characterized by mottling of the foliage
mosaic adjective

Medical Definition

mosaic

1 of 2 noun
mo·​sa·​ic mō-ˈzā-ik How to pronounce mosaic (audio)
: an organism or one of its parts composed of cells of more than one genotype : chimera

mosaic

2 of 2 adjective
1
: exhibiting mosaicism
2
mosaically adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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