tobacco mosaic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “tobacco mosaic” mean?
A viral disease in tobacco plants caused by the Tobacco Mosaic Virus, characterized by mosaic-like patterns on the leaves.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A viral disease in tobacco plants caused by the Tobacco Mosaic Virus, characterized by mosaic-like patterns on the leaves.
Refers to the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) itself, used as a model organism in virology, with implications for agriculture and plant pathology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; the term is standardized in scientific contexts.
Connotations
Neutral in both dialects, associated with plant disease and virology.
Frequency
Equally common in academic and technical registers worldwide.
Grammar
How to Use “tobacco mosaic” in a Sentence
The tobacco mosaic virustobacco mosaic in plantssusceptibility to tobacco mosaiccontrol of tobacco mosaicVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tobacco mosaic” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The tobacco mosaic outbreak devastated the local farms.
American English
- Tobacco mosaic virus research has advanced our understanding of pathogens.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In tobacco farming, managing tobacco mosaic is critical for maximizing yield and quality.
Academic
Tobacco mosaic virus is a foundational subject in virology, often studied for its structure and replication.
Everyday
Rarely mentioned in casual conversation, except among gardeners or farmers.
Technical
Commonly used in plant pathology, molecular biology, and agricultural science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tobacco mosaic”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tobacco mosaic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tobacco mosaic”
- Mispronouncing 'mosaic' as /mɒˈzeɪɪk/
- Misspelling as 'tobaco mosaic' or 'tobacco mosaik'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to tobacco mosaic') which is incorrect.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is caused by the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), a rod-shaped virus that infects plants.
Through direct contact with infected plants, contaminated tools, or occasionally by insects, but not through seeds.
Yes, it can infect various plants in the Solanaceae family, such as tomatoes and peppers, though tobacco is the primary host.
It was the first virus to be discovered (in 1898) and crystallized, paving the way for modern virology and molecular biology.
A viral disease in tobacco plants caused by the Tobacco Mosaic Virus, characterized by mosaic-like patterns on the leaves.
Tobacco mosaic is usually technical/scientific in register.
Tobacco mosaic: in British English it is pronounced /təˈbækəʊ məʊˈzeɪɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /təˈbækoʊ moʊˈzeɪɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of tobacco leaves with a broken, mosaic art-like pattern when infected by the virus.
Conceptual Metaphor
Disease as a fragmented artwork, implying damage and irregularity.
Practice
Quiz
What is tobacco mosaic primarily associated with?