tessera

views updated May 29 2018

tes·ser·a / ˈtesərə/ • n. (pl. tes·se·rae / ˈtesərē/ ) a small block of stone, tile, glass, or other material used in the construction of a mosaic. ∎  (in ancient Greece and Rome) a small tablet of wood or bone used as a token.DERIVATIVES: tes·ser·al / -rəl/ adj.

tessera

views updated Jun 27 2018

tessera (pl. tesserae). One of a great number of small square (almost cubical) pieces of glass, marble, pottery, stone, tile, etc., called in the singular abaculus, abaciscus, or, if very small, tessella, embedded in mortar forming a mosaic.

tessera

views updated May 29 2018

tessera small quadrilateral tablet, esp. as used in mosaic; (hist.) square tablet on which watchword, etc., was written; hence (gen.) symbol, token. XVII. — L. — Gr. téssera, n. of tésseres, Ionic var- of téssares FOUR.