n.
Pronunciation: m ō - ' z ā -ik
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English musycke, from Medieval Latin musaicum, alteration of Late Latin musivum, from Latin museum, musaeum
Date: 15th century
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 \ - ' z ā -ik- ˌ l ī k \ adjective