# mosaic

/moʊˈzeɪɪk/ (US) · /məsˈeɪɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mosaic
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. artwork

noun · CEFR B2

a picture or pattern made by fitting together small pieces of coloured stone, glass, or tile.

For teachers: a surface decoration or picture made by inlaying small coloured pieces, such as stone or glass, in mortar.

- The floor of the old church was covered in a beautiful Roman mosaic.
- Archaeologists discovered a remarkably preserved mosaic depicting a hunting scene, with each tiny stone still retaining its original vibrant pigment.

### 2. a diverse mixture

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a group or collection made of many different and interesting parts.

For teachers: a figurative composite structure or assembly consisting of diverse and distinct elements.

- The city is a mosaic of different cultures and languages.
- The novel presents a complex mosaic of perspectives, weaving together the disparate lives of ten strangers living in the same apartment block.

### 3. composite image

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a large picture made by joining several smaller photographs together.

For teachers: a composite photographic image formed by overlapping several individual photographs, often used in aerial or satellite mapping.

- The scientists created a mosaic of the planet's surface using satellite photos.
- By stitching together hundreds of high-resolution frames, the team produced a seamless mosaic of the entire valley floor.

### 4. genetic variation

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a person or animal that has two or more sets of cells with different DNA.

For teachers: an individual or tissue exhibiting mosaicism, containing cells of two or more different genetic constitutions derived from a single zygote.

- The doctor explained that the patient was a genetic mosaic.
- Chromosomal mosaicism can lead to varied clinical presentations, as the proportion of affected cells often differs between various tissues in the body.

### 5. plant disease

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of virus that makes leaves look spotted or patterned.

For teachers: any of various plant diseases caused by viruses, characterised by mottling or spotting of the foliage.

- The farmer had to destroy the crop because it was infected with tobacco mosaic.
- The presence of the mosaic virus was confirmed by the distinct yellow chlorotic patches appearing on the upper surface of the leaves.

### 6. relating to Moses

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

relating to the religious leader Moses or the laws he brought.

For teachers: pertaining to Moses, the Hebrew prophet and lawgiver, or the writings and laws traditionally attributed to him.

- The students studied the Mosaic laws in their history class.
- The theological treatise explores the relationship between Mosaic tradition and the later developments in Judeo-Christian ethics.

### 7. to arrange as a pattern

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to arrange things in a pattern like a mosaic.

For teachers: to decorate with or arrange in the manner of a mosaic; to tile or tessellate a surface.

- The artist decided to mosaic the garden wall with broken pieces of pottery.
- The software allows users to automatically mosaic individual image tiles into a single, geographically accurate map layer.

## Examples

- The floor of the old church has a beautiful mosaic.
- Archaeologists discovered a Roman mosaic depicting a hunting scene beneath the modern city street.
- The city's culture is a vibrant mosaic of different traditions, languages, and cuisines that have blended over centuries of migration.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.