filament

noun

fil·a·ment | \ ˈfi-lə-mənt

Definition of filament

: a single thread or a thin flexible threadlike object, process, or appendage (see appendage sense 2): such as

a : a tenuous (see tenuous sense 2) conductor (as of carbon or metal) made incandescent by the passage of an electric current specifically : a cathode (see cathode sense 2) in the form of a metal wire in an electron tube

b(1) : a thin and fine elongated constituent part of a gill (see gill entry 2 sense 1)

(2) : an elongated thin series of cells attached one to another or a very long thin cylindrical single cell (as of some algae, fungi, or bacteria)

c : the anther-bearing stalk of a stamen — see flower illustration

Other Words from filament Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about filament

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Other Words from filament

filamentary \ ˌfi-lə-ˈmen-t(ə-)rē

\ adjective

filamentous \ ˌfi-lə-ˈmen-təs

\ adjective

Synonyms for filament

Synonyms

bristle, fiber, hair, thread

Examples of filament in a Sentence

algae covered with tiny filaments the cable was made up of fine filaments twisted together

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2017, a company called Made in Space built fiber-optic filaments in the microgravity environment of the ISS using a material better than that typically used on Earth—but that is difficult to work with under the influence of gravity. — Kevin Dupzyk, Popular Mechanics, "What ISS Taught Us In the Past 20 Years," 20 Nov. 2018 One possibility was the formation of metal filaments between the electrodes. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Researchers make RAM from a phase change we don’t entirely understand," 18 Dec. 2018 Your fingers will start to glow from the light that passes through the tissue, but the image of the filament is lost by the random path the light takes through your hand. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Metamaterial-equipped endoscope reveals your innermost secrets," 4 Aug. 2018 The paint forms various viscous filaments, which are thrown against a vertical canvas. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Study: modern masters like Jackson Pollock were “intuitive physicists”," 26 Dec. 2018 MakerBot has been selling machines with multiple extruders since 2012, for instance — so one extruder can print an object with ordinary plastic filament, and another can lay down a support scaffold that dissolves in water. — Adi Robertson, The Verge, "MakerBot’s new 3D printer shows how much it’s changed in nine years," 11 Dec. 2018 The arm is connected to a tube on the ground that feeds a mix of fiberglass and resin into the robot to create the wet filament. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Watch a swarm of robots build a fiber structure," 12 Oct. 2018 Tens or even hundreds of these filaments are then twisted together to form a single e-thread that’s usually less than half a millimeter across. — Asimina Kiourti, Scientific American, "Embroidering Electronics into the Next Generation of “Smart” Fabrics," 13 Mar. 2018 Cells typically move by using tiny filaments that help them push and pull off other objects. — Douglas Quenqua, New York Times, "Inside Wounded Flies, Fat Cells Race to the Rescue," 26 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'filament.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near filament

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Last Updated

27 Apr 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for filament

The first known use of filament was in 1594

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More Definitions for filament

filament

noun

English Language Learners Definition of filament

: a thin thread or hair

: a thin wire in a light bulb that glows when electricity passes through it

See the full definition for filament in the English Language Learners Dictionary

filament

noun

fil·a·ment | \ ˈfi-lə-mənt

Kids Definition of filament

1 : a fine thread a filament of silk

2 : a fine wire (as in a light bulb) that is made to glow by the passage of an electric current

3 : the stalk of a plant stamen that bears the anther

filament

noun

fil·a·ment | \ ˈfil-ə-mənt

Medical Definition of filament

: a single thread or a thin flexible threadlike object, process, or appendage especially : an elongated thin series of cells attached one to another or a very long thin cylindrical single cell (as of some algae, fungi, or bacteria)