mosaic disease: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (technical domain)Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “mosaic disease” mean?
A plant disease, typically viral, characterised by mottled or mosaic-like discoloration of the leaves.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A plant disease, typically viral, characterised by mottled or mosaic-like discoloration of the leaves.
Any of various viral diseases in plants that cause patchy, light and dark green patterns on foliage, often leading to stunted growth and reduced yield.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both variants use the same term.
Connotations
Neutral, purely technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to agricultural and botanical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “mosaic disease” in a Sentence
The [plant name] was affected by mosaic disease.Mosaic disease is caused by [virus name].To diagnose/treat mosaic disease.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mosaic disease” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The virus will mosaic the leaves.
- The crop was mosaicked by the pathogen.
American English
- The virus mosaics the leaves.
- The infection mosaicked the entire field.
adjective
British English
- mosaic-diseased plants
- a mosaic-disease symptom
American English
- mosaic-diseased tobacco
- mosaic-disease patterns
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in agribusiness reports concerning crop health and yield loss.
Academic
Standard term in plant pathology, virology, and agricultural science publications.
Everyday
Very rarely used; only by gardeners or farmers discussing plant problems.
Technical
Precise diagnostic term for specific viral pathologies in plants.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mosaic disease”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mosaic disease”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mosaic disease”
- Misspelling as 'mosaik disease' or 'mosaique disease'.
- Using it as a countable noun without an article (e.g., 'The plant has mosaic disease').
- Confusing it with nutrient deficiencies which can cause similar discolouration.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no cure for viral mosaic diseases. Management focuses on prevention, using resistant varieties, controlling insect vectors, and removing infected plants.
No, specific mosaic viruses have specific host ranges. For example, Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) affects tomatoes, peppers, and tobacco, but not grasses.
No, plant mosaic viruses are not pathogenic to humans or animals. They only infect plants.
It spreads primarily through insect vectors (like aphids), contaminated tools, infected plant debris, or sometimes through seeds.
A plant disease, typically viral, characterised by mottled or mosaic-like discoloration of the leaves.
Mosaic disease is usually technical / scientific in register.
Mosaic disease: in British English it is pronounced /məʊˌzeɪ.ɪk dɪˈziːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /moʊˌzeɪ.ɪk dɪˈziːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a mosaic artwork with coloured tiles; the disease creates a similar patchy pattern of light and dark green on the leaf.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS A DEFACING PATTERN (the healthy 'canvas' of the leaf is overlaid with a disfiguring mosaic).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of mosaic disease in plants?