mosaic

1 of 4

noun

mo·​sa·​ic mō-ˈzā-ik 

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 memories …

—Lawrence 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

mō-ˈzā-ik-ˌlīk 

adjective

mosaic

2 of 4

adjective (1)

1

: of, relating to, produced by, or resembling a mosaic

2

: exhibiting mosaicism

3

: determinate sense 5

mosaically

mō-ˈzā-ə-k(ə-)lē 

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 

: 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

Built in 1867, it’s housed within a neoclassical, four-story double arcade with marble floors, glass domed ceilings, and spectacular mosaics. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026

The museum illuminated how much our national history is really a mosaic of stories from cities and towns across the country. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026

Adjective

The high-end products are in sync with the barber shop’s old-school aesthetic, combining columns, capitals and green marble with opulent mosaic flooring, black ebony walls, coffered ceilings and metopes crafted by Venetian glassmakers. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026

Hypnotizing with its undulating waves of blue and green mosaic tiles, scenes of Paris are projected onto the walls. —Kasia Dietz, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026

Adjective

Among his creations were furniture, lamps with mosaic shades from Lake Michigan beach glass, jewelry, paintings, sculptures and clocks. —Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025

In the dining room, expect vintage chandeliers, intricate mosaic tilework and leather banquettes, designed in collaboration with Chicago’s Kuchar Studio and Dan Beyer Architects. —Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Aug. 2025

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

Phrases Containing mosaic

• cucumber mosaic
• tobacco mosaic virus

Rhymes for mosaic

• altaic
• archaic
• deltaic
• hebraic
• oleic
• prosaic
• trochaic
• voltaic
• algebraic
• aramaic
• formulaic
• ptolemaic

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 

: 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

: determinate

mosaically

-ˈzā-ə-k(ə-)lē 

adverb