I. mō-ˈzā-ik 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 -ˈzā-ik-ˌlīk adjective
II. adjective
Date: 1585
1. : of, relating to, produced by, or resembling a mosaic
2. : exhibiting mosaicism
3. : determinate 5
• mo·sa·i·cal·ly -ˈzā-ə-k(ə-)lē adverb
III. transitive verb
( -icked ; -ick·ing )
Date: 1839
1. : to decorate with mosaics
2. : to form into a mosaic