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Tile vs Mosaic - What's the difference?

tile | mosaic |

As nouns the difference between tile and mosaic

is that tile is a regularly-shaped slab of clay or other material, affixed to cover or decorate a surface, as in a roof-tile, glazed tile, stove tile, carpet tile etc while mosaic is a piece of artwork created by placing colored squares (usually tiles) in a pattern so as to create a picture.

As a verb tile

is to cover with tiles.

As an adjective mosaic is

containing cells of varying genetic constitution.

tile

English

(wikipedia tile)

Etymology 1

(etyl)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A regularly-shaped slab of clay or other material, affixed to cover or decorate a surface, as in a roof-tile, glazed tile, stove tile, carpet tile etc.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
  • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=3 citation , passage=Sepia Delft tiles surrounded the fireplace, their crudely drawn Biblical scenes in faded cyclamen blending with the pinkish pine, while above them, instead of a mantelshelf, there was an archway high enough to form a balcony with slender balusters and a tapestry-hung wall behind.}}
  • (computing)  A rectangular graphic.
  • Any of various types of cuboid playing piece used in certain games, such as in dominoes, Scrabble, or mahjong.
  • (dated)  A stiff hat.
  • (Dickens)
    Derived terms
    * glazed tile * out on the tiles * tilework

    Verb

  • To cover with tiles.
  • (computing) To arrange in a regular pattern, with adjoining edges (applied to tile-like objects, graphics, windows in a computer interface).
  • Etymology 2

    See .

    Alternative forms

    * tyle

    Verb

    (til)
  • To protect from the intrusion of the uninitiated.
  • to tile a Masonic lodge
    tile the door

    Anagrams

    *

    mosaic

    English

    Alternative forms

    * mosaick (obsolete)

    Noun

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

    (-)
  • (of an individual) Containing cells of varying genetic constitution.
  • See also

    * ("mosaic" on Wikipedia) *