tessellate
Fit shapes together
To tessellate is to cover a surface with shapes that fit together without gaps or overlaps, like tiles on a floor.
The term comes from geometry, where certain shapes—squares, triangles, hexagons—can tessellate a plane perfectly: The honeycomb pattern tessellates.
Extended to any repeated interlocking pattern: The artist tessellated the mural with geometric forms.
Recurring thematic element
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
- wallpaperOrnamental wall covering
honeycomb · checkerboard · herringbone · basketweave · pinwheel · grid · repeat · interlocking
Multisided plane figure
- hexagonSix-sided closed figure
- triangleThree-sided plane figure
- quadrilateralFour-sided closed figure
- rhombusEquilateral parallelogram
parallelogram · trapezoid · vertex · edge · angle · congruent · Euclidean · plane
Interlocking open weave
engage · intermesh · dovetail · piece together · slot · snap · align · abut
Fired clay material
- porcelainTranslucent fired clay
- subwayUnderground transit passage
- hexagonalSix-edged polygon's form
- encausticHeat-fixed wax medium
cement · terracotta · glazed · backsplash · flooring · paver · bathroom · kitchen
motif
Recurring thematic element
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
wallpaper · honeycomb · checkerboard · herringbone · basketweave · pinwheel · grid · repeat · interlocking · seamless
polygon
Multisided plane figure
- hexagonSix-sided closed figure
- triangleThree-sided plane figure
- quadrilateralFour-sided closed figure
rhombus · parallelogram · trapezoid · vertex · edge · angle · congruent · Euclidean · plane · symmetry
mesh
Interlocking open weave
connect · engage · intermesh · dovetail · piece together · slot · snap · align · abut · adjoin
ceramic
Fired clay material
encaustic · cement · terracotta · glazed · backsplash · flooring · paver · bathroom · kitchen · rectified
tesserae
Mosaic's constituent pieces
opus sectile · marble · nippers · indirect · direct · Ravenna · Roman · flooring · mural
quilt
Stuffed, stitched bed covering
- patchworkFabric scraps sewn together
- marquetryDecorative veneer patterning
- intarsiaDecorative inlaid pattern technique
parquet · inlay · piecing · applique · papercraft · origami · beadwork · tilework · woodwork · stained glass
tessellatescatter
Distribute in random directions
randomize · disperse · jumble · disorder · disarrange
tessellatefragment
Incomplete portion of whole
break apart · shatter · disintegrate · scatter · separate