plural tesserae
ˈte-sə-ˌrē 
-ˌrī
1
: a small tablet (as of wood, bone, or ivory) used by the ancient Romans as a ticket, tally, voucher, or means of identification
2
: a small piece (as of marble, glass, or tile) used in mosaic work
Examples of tessera in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The tickets were small disks made of clay, called tessera in Latin, which were stamped with seating details and distributed to Roman citizens through institutions, companies, and other organizations.
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Melissa Locker, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2023
On the other hand, VERITAS would provide a map of every tessera, albeit with less overall detail.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 2 June 2021
Some tessera were damaged and others were missing when it was rolled up and transported overseas, but those too were restored.
—Joseph Serna, latimes.com, 27 May 2018
In the milling street Crivano feels invisible again, a tessera blended into a mosaic.
—Scarlett Thomas, New York Times, 27 May 2016
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Melissa Locker, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2023
On the other hand, VERITAS would provide a map of every tessera, albeit with less overall detail.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 2 June 2021
Some tessera were damaged and others were missing when it was rolled up and transported overseas, but those too were restored.
—Joseph Serna, latimes.com, 27 May 2018
In the milling street Crivano feels invisible again, a tessera blended into a mosaic.
—Scarlett Thomas, New York Times, 27 May 2016
Cite this Entry
“Tessera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tessera. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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