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

With a mosaic of screens paneling the walls of the bar, soccer fans were treated to a live broadcast of matches. — Sari Kamin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 June 2026

La Duna Gallery features oil paintings and glass mosaics by owners John and Dana Maher. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 23 June 2026

Adjective

Sign up for a class, or create your own one-of-a-kind art mosaic masterpiece using glass and resin. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 23 June 2026

The bathroom, with a rain shower, copper fixtures, a large soaking tub, and a mosaic of natural gray stone, felt sumptuous and modern. — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Adjective

The projects vary each month, ranging from wood burning and resin art to mosaic making and candle crafting. — Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Often, the best solution is a mosaic of several low-growing plants from our list of the best grass alternatives. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 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

• algebraic
• aramaic
• formulaic
• ptolemaic
• allogeneic
• photovoltaic
• altaic
• archaic
• deltaic
• hebraic
• oleic
• prosaic

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