tesserae Definition
- 1small pieces of stone, glass, or ceramic used in mosaic work
- 2a token or ticket used in ancient Greece and Rome as a means of identification or admission to events
Using tesserae: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tesserae" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The artist used tesserae of different colors to create a beautiful mosaic.
Example
The museum had a collection of ancient tesserae from Greece and Rome.
Example
In ancient Rome, tesserae were used as tickets for admission to public events.
tesserae Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for tesserae
- fragments
- mosaic pieces
- tiles
Phrases with tesserae
a pavement made of small square or rectangular tiles of stone or concrete, arranged in a pattern like a mosaic
Example
The Roman villa had a beautiful tessellated pavement in the entrance hall.
tessera hospitalis
a token given to guests in ancient Greece and Rome as a symbol of hospitality and friendship
Example
The tessera hospitalis was a sign of the bond between the host and the guest.
tessera frumentaria
a token given to soldiers in ancient Rome as a means of distributing rations of grain
Example
The tessera frumentaria was an important part of the Roman army's logistics.
Origins of tesserae
from Latin 'tessera', meaning 'a small square of stone or wood used in voting'
Summary: tesserae in Brief
'Tesserae' [tes-uh-ree] are small pieces of stone, glass, or ceramic used in mosaic work. They can also refer to tokens or tickets used in ancient Greece and Rome for identification or admission to events. Examples include 'The artist used tesserae of different colors to create a beautiful mosaic,' and 'In ancient Rome, tesserae were used as tickets for admission to public events.' Phrases include 'tessellated pavement,' 'tessera hospitalis,' and 'tessera frumentaria.'
