n. [ F. mosaïque; cf. Pr. mozaic, musec, Sp. & Pg. mosaico, It. mosaico, musaico, LGr. &unr_;, &unr_;, L. musivum; all fr. Gr. &unr_; belonging to the Muses. See Muse the goddess. ] 1. (Fine Arts) A surface decoration made by inlaying in patterns small pieces of variously colored glass, stone, or other material; -- called also mosaic work. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A picture or design made in mosaic; an article decorated in mosaic. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Something resembling a mosaic{ 1 }; something made up of different pieces, fitted together by design to form a unified composition. [ PJC ]

aerial mosaic An aerial photograph of a large area, made by carefully fitting together aerial photographs of smaller areas so that the edges match in location, and the whole provides a continuous image of the larger area. Called also
mosaic map and photomosaic. --
mosaic virus A type of plant virus that causes green and yellow mottling of leaves of a plant. A much-studied type is the tobacco mosaic virus, affecting the tobacco plant. [ PJC ]

a. Of or pertaining to the style of work called mosaic; formed by uniting pieces of different colors; variegated; tessellated; also, composed of various materials or ingredients. [ 1913 Webster ]

A very beautiful mosaic pavement. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Florentine mosaic. See under Florentine. --
Mosaic gold. (a) See Ormolu. (b) Stannic sulphide, SnS2, obtained as a yellow scaly crystalline powder, and used as a pigment in bronzing and gilding wood and metal work. It was called by the alchemists aurum musivum, or aurum mosaicum. Called also bronze powder. --
Mosaic work. See Mosaic, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. a. [ From Moses. ] Of or pertaining to Moses, the leader of the Israelites, or established through his agency; as, the Mosaic law, rites, or institutions. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Mosaic (in either sense). “A mosaical floor.” Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of a mosaic. [ 1913 Webster ]