mosaic

Meanings

Noun

• A piece of artwork created by placing colored squares (usually tiles) in a pattern so as to create a picture.
• An individual composed of two or more cell lines of different genetic or chromosomal constitution, but from the same zygote.
• Any of several viral diseases that cause mosaic-like patterns to appear on leaves.
• A composite picture made from overlapping photographs.

Adjective

• Containing cells of varying genetic constitution.

Origin

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