tilelike

Tilelike is an adjective used to describe something that resembles tiles in shape, arrangement, or appearance. Typically it refers to flat, often rectangular or polygonal units that fit together in a regular tessellation, producing a mosaic-like surface or pattern. The term is commonly applied in architecture, design, and computer graphics to denote tile-based textures, floors, walls, or murals where individual units align edge to edge with minimal gaps.

In science and engineering, tilelike can describe microstructures or fracture patterns that form tabular or plate-like units. For example, certain ceramic or mineral surfaces exhibit tilelike cleavage or growth, where flat, polygonal plates align to cover a surface. In materials science, describing a surface as tilelike can help convey a planar, mosaic appearance rather than a continuous, featureless plane.

Etymology: the word is a compound of tile and the suffix -like, indicating resemblance. It is a descriptive, not a formal technical term, and is often used interchangeably with tile-shaped or tile-patterned in casual writing.

See also: tiling, tessellation, mosaic, tile, plate-like.