terrazzo

[ tuh-raz-oh, -rah-zoh, -rah-tsoh; Italian ter-raht-tsaw ]

noun

1. a mosaic flooring or paving composed of chips of broken stone, usually marble, and cement, polished when in place.

terrazzo

/ tɛˈrætsəʊ /

noun

1. a floor or wall finish made by setting marble or other stone chips into a layer of mortar and polishing the surface

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrazzo¹

1895–1900; < Italian: balcony, terraced or flat roof < Vulgar Latin *terrāceus, derivative of Latin terra ground

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrazzo¹

C20: from Italian: terrace

Example Sentences

Everywhere you turn, there are thoughtful touches, curated art and the familiar Lisbon pastel and terrazzo colorways.

From Salon

Think of it as terrazzo with a twist.

From Seattle Times

“When you pave with rubble concrete, these broken-up pieces of sidewalk, it looks a bit like terrazzo,” Keen said.

From Seattle Times

“Rubble terrazzo, a funny mimicry.”

From Seattle Times

They were recent graduates of Pratt Institute’s industrial design program, and they swaddled pieces of rope, scraps of wood and other discards in spandex that they soaked in resin, creating a ham hock-like form that could be sliced to create variegated drink coasters that a writer described as “one part terrazzo and one part mortadella.”

From New York Times