tessera

noun

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tes·sera | \ ˈte-sə-rə

plural tesserae\ ˈte-sə-ˌrē

, -ˌrī \

Definition of tessera

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 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

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tessera.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.