A composite of elements . . . . Basic Scheme, Essential Part or Substance, Identifying Quality or Character . . . . The Disposition or Manner of union of particles . . . . This may be plain or decorated, smooth or rough, and may appeal to the sense of touch as much as to sight. Principals of Two-Dimensional Design.
Texture refers to the surface characteristics of a shape.
Every shape has a surface and every surface must have certain characteristics, which may be described as smooth or rough, plain or decorated, matt or glossy, soft or hard. Although we generally regard a flat painted surface as containing no texture at all, actually the flatness of the paint is a kind of texture, and there is also the texture of the material on which the shape is created. Nature contains a wealth of textures. For instance, each kind of stone or wood possesses a distinct texture which an architect or an interior designer may choose for specific purposes. The piece of stone or wood may also be finished in a multiple of ways for diverse textural effects.