tessellate

 
Pronunciation: /ˈtɛsəleɪt/
(US also tesselate)

verb

[with object]
  • 1 (often as adjective tessellated) decorate (a floor or pavement) with mosaics.
  • 2cover (a plane surface) by repeated use of a single shape, without gaps or overlapping.

Origin:

late 17th century (as tessellated): from late Latin tessellat-, from the verb tessellare, from tessella, diminutive of tessera (see tessera)