First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1mosaic
noun mo·sa·ic \mō-ˈzā-ik\
: a decoration on a surface made by pressing small pieces of colored glass or stone into a soft material that then hardens to make pictures or patterns
: something made up of different things that together form a pattern
Full Definition of MOSAIC
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 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
— mo·sa·ic·like \-ˈzā-ik-ˌlīk\ adjective
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Origin of MOSAIC
Middle English musycke, from Medieval Latin musaicum, alteration of Late Latin musivum, from Latin museum, musaeum
2mosaic
adjective
Definition of MOSAIC
1
: of, relating to, produced by, or resembling a mosaic
2
: exhibiting mosaicism
First Known Use of MOSAIC
1585
3mosaic
verb
mosaickedmosaick·ing
Definition of MOSAIC
transitive verb
1
: to decorate with mosaics
2
: to form into a mosaic
First Known Use of MOSAIC
1839
Mosaic
adjective Mo·sa·ic \mō-ˈzā-ik\
Definition of MOSAIC
: of or relating to Moses or the institutions or writings attributed to him
Origin of MOSAIC
New Latin Mosaicus, from Moses Moses
First Known Use: 1662
Other Jewish Religion Terms
MOSAIC Defined for Kids
mosaic
noun mo·sa·ic \mō-ˈzā-ik\
Definition of MOSAIC for Kids
: a decoration on a surface made by setting small pieces of glass, stone, or tile of different colors into another material to make patterns or pictures
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