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 2): such as

a :a tenuous (see tenuous 2) conductor (as of carbon or metal) made incandescent by the passage of an electric current; specifically :a cathode (see cathode 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 ²gill 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

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filamentary

play \ˌfi-lə-ˈmen-t(ə-)rē\ adjective

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filamentous

play \ˌfi-lə-ˈmen-təs\ adjective

See filament defined for English-language learners

See filament defined for kids

Examples of filament in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of filament from the Web

Four machines line a wall, printing layer upon layer of filaments until a flexible-plastic shoe is created in 24 to 48 hours.

— kara carlson, The Seattle Times, "3D printing adds another dimension as tool for production, not just prototypes," 17 Aug. 2017
Cost is free to use tools, with a small fee for materials such as the 3D print filament and vinyl.

— jody mace, charlotteobserver, "10 activities in CLT that cost $10 or less," 11 Aug. 2017
On Saturday an AR-15 bullet was found inside one of the twisted heaps of filament, as was an old flip cellphone.

— brian ballou, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Divers take out the trash under Dania Beach pier," 15 July 2017
Semen has something in common with the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers: Both contain bundles of protein filaments called amyloid fibrils.

— giorgia guglielmi, Science | AAAS, "Protein tangles behind Alzheimer’s disease may be critical for human reproduction," 11 July 2017
As the mycelium grows, the filaments fasten together and turn the fixture white, leaving behind scattered brown flecks that give the lampshades an earthy look.

— nina friend, Bon Appetit, "These Gorgeous Lamps Are Made Out of Edible Mushrooms," 6 July 2017
Thomas Edison’s incandescent bulb is the most ubiquitous example, the wire being tungsten filament.

— allen c. guelzo, WSJ, "Behind the Brooklyn Bridge," 29 June 2017
In the first clip, the dermatologist is seen slowly pulling up what appear to be blackheads — but are actually sebaceous filaments — from a client's upper cheek.

— sarah kinonen, Allure, "Dr. Pimple Popper Uses Blackhead Tweezers for Her Latest Extraction Video," 26 June 2017
Big, bright galaxies sit inside the center of a galaxy cluster, which is inside a cluster of galaxy clusters, inside one of these filaments.

— marina koren, The Atlantic, "The Eerie Alignment of Ancient Giant Galaxies," 21 June 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of filament

Middle French, from Medieval Latin filamentum, from Late Latin filare to spin — more at file

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1594

See Words from the same year

filament Synonyms

Synonyms

bristle, fiber, hair, thread

Related Words

microfiber; cord, rope, string, wire, yarn; fuzz, tuft

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

FILAMENT Defined for English Language Learners

filament

noun

Definition of filament for English Language Learners

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

FILAMENT Defined for Kids

filament

noun fil·a·ment \ ˈfi-lə-mənt \

Definition of filament for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

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)

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