Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA piece of artwork created by placing colored squares (usually tiles) in a pattern so as to create a picture.
nounPixelization. (a method of censorship)
Sentence Examples
Please ensure the genitals are obscured by a mosaic effect.
The world of thinking is a mosaic of visions, expressed through language.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The artist created a beautiful ____ using small colorful tiles on the wall.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The floor of the ancient cathedral is decorated with a beautiful ____ made of thousands of small, colorful pieces of polished glass.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree
Ancient Greek Μοῦσᾰ (Moûsă)
Proto-Indo-European *-yósder.
Ancient Greek -ῐος (-ĭos)?
Ancient Greek -ῐον (-ĭon)
Ancient Greek -εῖον (-eîon)
Ancient Greek Μουσεῖον (Mouseîon)
Ancient Greek μουσεῖον (mouseîon)der.
Late Latin mūsīvum
Medieval Latin musaicumbor.
Italian mosaicoder.
Middle French mosaïqueder.
English mosaic
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 (Mouseîon), shrine of the Muses (Μοῦσα (Moûsa)). Doublet of museum.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Using censorship's ability to enhance laughter, modern comedy uses a full array of censorship tools: strategically placed censors' black bars ... digitalized mosaic blurs or pixilations^([sic]) that obscure body parts, crude gestures, and the like ..."
— 2019, Laura Little, Guilty Pleasures: Comedy and Law in America, Oxford University Press, archived from the original on 19 Jul 2023, page 65:
"Featheredging is a process in preparing the photographs for mosaicking and involves cutting, tearing, and sandpapering the back of the print along its edges in such a way that the edge of the print is thin and will make a smooth match with adjoining prints."
— 1944, War Department Technical Manual, volume 5, number 240, page 60:
"The Mosaic account of the creation, whether taken as divine authority, or merely historical, is full to this point, the unity or equality of man."
— 1791, Thomas Paine, Rights of Man: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke’s Attack on the French Revolution, London: […] J. S. Jordan, […], →OCLC:
"The Mosaic Code, embodied in the Pentateuch, furnished to the children of Israel the necessary platform of justice; ancient tradition and Rabbinic interpretation contained in the Talmud, supplied needed rules of practical application."
— 1908, Walter M. Chandler, The Trial of Jesus from a Lawyer's Standpoint, volume I: