mosaic
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mosaic
A picture or pattern created by putting together many small, colored pieces of stone, glass, or ceramic.
In der alten römischen Villa entdeckten Archäologen ein gut erhaltenes Mosaik auf dem Boden.
In the old Roman villa, archaeologists discovered a well-preserved mosaic on the floor.
To describe the components of a mosaic, the preposition 'aus' (from/of) is almost always used. This applies both to the literal and the figurative meaning.
Das Kunstwerk ist ein Mosaik aus tausenden kleinen Glasstücken.
The artwork is a mosaic of thousands of small pieces of glass.
In connection with making or discovering a mosaic, the verbs 'legen' (to lay/make), 'gestalten' (to design), 'entdecken' (to discover), or 'zusammensetzen' (to put together) are often used.
Die Kinder haben im Kunstunterricht ein buntes Mosaik gelegt.
The children made a colorful mosaic in art class.
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that it refers to a mixture of abstract things. Typical contexts are culture, society, opinions, or experiences.
Die Bevölkerung der Stadt ist ein Mosaik verschiedener Nationalitäten.
The city's population is a mosaic of different nationalities.
In the figurative meaning, 'Mosaik' (mosaic) is often accompanied by adjectives that emphasize diversity. Common combinations are 'ein buntes Mosaik' (a colorful mosaic), 'ein vielfältiges Mosaik' (a diverse mosaic), or 'ein faszinierendes Mosaik' (a fascinating mosaic).
Der Film bietet ein buntes Mosaik an Charakteren und Geschichten.
The film offers a colorful mosaic of characters and stories.
mixture
'die Mischung' and 'das Mosaik' can both describe a whole made up of different parts. 'die Mischung' is the normal, general word for a combination. 'das Mosaik' is more figurative: you imagine many individual parts that together create a colorful or complex whole. It fits especially when the diversity of the parts is important and each part contributes something to the overall picture. 'Mischung' sounds simpler and more direct; 'Mosaik' sounds more vivid and often a bit more special.
Seine Erinnerungen bilden ein buntes Mosaik aus Reisen, Gesprächen und Musik.
His memories form a colorful mosaic of travels, conversations, and music.
Die Stadt bietet eine gute Mischung aus alten Gebäuden und modernen Cafés.
The city offers a good mixture of old buildings and modern cafés.