mosaic

1 of 4

noun

mo·​sa·​ic mō-ˈzā-ik How to pronounce mosaic (audio)
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 memoriesLawrence 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 adjective

mosaic

2 of 4

adjective (1)

1
: of, relating to, produced by, or resembling a mosaic
2
: exhibiting mosaicism
3
mosaically 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 How to pronounce Mosaic (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Uptown Art Expo: Featuring more than 140 artists with displays of glass, jewelry, mosaics, paintings, photography, pottery, sculpture and more all available for purchase. Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025 Set in what is called the Montreux Riviera on the shores of Lake Geneva, the area features a mosaic of landscapes. Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Five years ago, many clinicians would have advised a patient to discard mosaic embryos, says Dr. Rachel Weinerman, an infertility specialist and associate professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Ohio. Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025 In the landmarked Red Room, the mosaic walls could not be touched. David Moin, WWD, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mosaic

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of mosaic was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Mosaic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mosaic. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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 How to pronounce mosaic (audio)
: 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
mosaically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on mosaic

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