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

Colorful Turkish mosaics emblazon the floor of many of the rooms, with a ’70s-esque color palette in the den and aqua hues in one of the bedrooms. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2025

Want to capture your own nebula mosaics? —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 Nov. 2025

Adjective

Our windows are a love letter to the creative process itself, infusing various artistic mediums from paper sculpture, soft sculpture, mosaic to more. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 21 Nov. 2025

There’s also a pizza menu that includes specialties like the margherita, truffle and piccantissimi with chili pepper pesto and pine nuts, all baked in a gorgeous, black and white mosaic pizza oven. —Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025

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