tessera
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tes·ser·a
(tĕs′ər-ə)n. pl. tes·ser·ae (tĕs′ə-rē′)
One of the small squares of stone or glass used in making mosaic patterns.
[Latin, from Greek, neuter of tesseres, variant of tessares, four; see kwetwer- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
tessera
(ˈtɛsərə)n, pl -serae (-səˌriː)
1. (Ceramics) a small square tile of stone, glass, etc, used in mosaics
2. (Historical Terms) a die, tally, etc, used in classical times, made of bone or wood
[C17: from Latin, from Ionic Greek tesseres four]
ˈtesseral adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
tes•ser•a
(ˈtɛs ər ə)n., pl. tes•ser•ae (ˈtɛs əˌri)
1. one of the small pieces used in mosaic work.
2. a small square of bone, wood, or the like, used in ancient Rome as a token, tally, ticket, etc.
[1640–50; < Latin, perhaps shortening of Greek *tessarágōnos square]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| Noun | 1. | tessera - a small square tile of stone or glass used in making mosaics mosaic - art consisting of a design made of small pieces of colored stone or glass tessella - a small tessera tile - a flat thin rectangular slab (as of fired clay or rubber or linoleum) used to cover surfaces |
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