Mosaic

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /məʊˈzeɪɪk/
• US IPA: /moʊˈzeɪɪk/
• Rhymes: -eɪɪk

Alternative forms

• mosaick obsolete

Origin

From Middle French mosaïque, from Italian mosaico, from Medieval Latin musaicum, from Late Latin musivum (opus), from Latin museum, musaeum, probably from Ancient Greek Μουσεῖον, shrine of the Muses (Μοῦσα).

Full definition of mosaic

Noun

1. A piece of artwork created by placing colored squares (usually tiles) in a pattern so as to create a picture.
2. (genetics) An individual composed of two or more cell lines of different genetic or chromosomal constitution, but from the same zygote.
3. (botany) A viral disease of plants.
4. A composite picture made from overlapping photographs.

Adjective

1. (of an individual) Containing cells of varying genetic constitution.

Related terms

• alphamosaic
• mosaicism
• mosaicist
• photomosaic