Tessellation

Monday, November 24, 2025
Word of the Day

What is Tessellation?

noun
A pattern made of identical shapes that fit together without gaps or overlaps.

Pronunciation

US pronunciation: /ˌtɛs.əˈleɪ.ʃən/
UK pronunciation: /ˌtɛs.ɪˈleɪ.ʃ(ə)n/
Slow pronunciation: tes-uh-LAY-shun

Meaning Explained

Tessellation bridges art and math — from Roman mosaics to GPU meshes and Escher tilings.

Why This Word?

Chosen to celebrate structure, symmetry, and play.

Examples of Use

Here's how this word appears in everyday language:

  • Escher popularized impossible tessellations.
  • Engineers optimized the mesh tessellation for rendering.
  • Kids explore math through paper tessellation arts.

Word Origins

Latin tessella “small cube,” the mosaic tile

Now used in geometry, graphics, and design.

First appearance in English: 17th century

Word Family

Related forms of this word:

  • Noun: mosaic

    A mosaic floor dazzled visitors.

  • Noun: tiling

    Tiling algorithms generate patterns.

  • Adjective: geometric

    Geometric motifs tiled the façade.

Around the World

How this word appears in other languages:

  • Spanish: teselado / teselación
  • French: tessellation
  • German: Kachelung / Parkettierung
  • Italian: tassellazione
  • Portuguese: tesselagem / tesselação

If you Already Know This Word

If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:

Mosaic

Artistic assembly; tessellation is mathematical fit.

Lattice

Grid framework; tessellation fills the plane.

Tiling

General term; tessellation implies no gaps/overlaps.

Fun Facts

  • Only three regular polygons tessellate the plane: triangles, squares, hexagons.
  • Penrose tilings are aperiodic tessellations with local rules.

Cultural Usage

  • Islamic architecture features intricate tessellations.
  • GPUs perform tessellation to refine 3D surfaces.

Common Mistakes

Not “tesselation” — note the double “s” and single “l.”

Micro Story

The pavilion’s tessellation shifted with the sun.