TESSELLATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tessellate mean? 

• TESSELLATE (verb)
  The verb TESSELLATE has 2 senses:

1. fit together exactly, of identical shapes

2. tile with tesserae

  Familiarity information: TESSELLATE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TESSELLATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they tessellate    ... he / she / it tessellates   
Past simple: tessellated   
Past participle: tessellated   
-ing form: tessellating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fit together exactly, of identical shapes

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

triangles tessellate

Hypernyms (to "tessellate" is one way to...):

fit; go (be the right size or shape; fit correctly or as desired)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Tile with tesserae

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

tessellate the kitchen floor

Hypernyms (to "tessellate" is one way to...):

tile (cover with tiles)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

tessella (a small tessera)

tessellation (the act of adorning with mosaic)

tessera (a small square tile of stone or glass used in making mosaics)