tessera
tessera
Definition
tes·sera (tes′ər ə)
noun pl. -·serae′-ē′
- in ancient Rome, a small tablet of wood, ivory, etc. used as a token, ticket, label, etc.
- any of the small pieces used in mosaic work
Etymology: L, square piece, cube < Gr (Ionic) tesseres (for tessares), four: see tetra-
tessera
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- use: The tiles and ceramic tesserae used in the mosaics were made at the factory, but the deep red tesserae were imported.
- stick: Students will be taught how to design, choose color, lay and stick tesserae.
- place: You place tesserae of the desired color in the spaces, cutting and fitting smaller shapes if neccessary.
- call: A piece of a Roman mosaic was called a tessera.
- make: By the end of the 3rd century BC mosaics with pebbles were being replaced by those with tesserae made from stone and glass.
Adjective modifier
- small: The small tesserae found in the filling would have related to the mosaic decoration of the dome.
- large: The outer border is as elsewhere, set with the larger tesserae, within which the main decorative panel was placed.
- red: The tiles and ceramic tesserae used in the mosaics were made at the factory, but the deep red tesserae were imported.
- vitreous: They were made in vitreous glass tesserae, using the reverse method, by Greenwich Mural Workshop.
- ceramic: The tiles and ceramic tesserae used in the mosaics were made at the factory, but the deep red tesserae were imported.
- fine: The first border in finer tesserae is of blue triangles set in light gray.
Noun used with modifier
- glass: The Venus head was flanked by peacocks, the colors of which were enhanced by the use of glass tesserae.
- mosaic: No laid tesserae were found, but many loose ones and some small mosaic tesserae.
- marble: We obtained colored marble tesserae and technical advice from the Mosaic Workshop in London.
- terracotta: There was a central corridor with a floor made of red terracotta tesserae and inlaid mosaic panels.
Browse dictionary entries near tessera
- tessellate
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- tertium quid
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- tessitura
- test
- test ban
- test case
- test case (action)
- test-drive
- test-market
- test match
- test paper
