filament

noun

fil·​a·​ment ˈfi-lə-mənt 

: 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

filamentary

ˌfi-lə-ˈmen-t(ə-)rē 

adjective

filamentous

ˌfi-lə-ˈmen-təs 

adjective

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

The fins of African and South American lungfish, however, have regressed to slender, thread-like filaments in the last 100 million years. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024

So, it can easily be unraveled and re-knit, unlike other 3D printing methods which require finished objects to be laboriously melted down and re-extruded into filament in order to be recycled. —New Atlas, 31 July 2024

The uppers are made from 1,500 meters of filament, which is sprayed onto a mold of the athlete’s foot suspended by a robotic arm. —George Ramsay, CNN, 9 Aug. 2024

The outsole is placed onto a robotic arm which rotates the shoe while the spray releases a single continuous string of thermoplastic filament. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

filament

noun

fil·​a·​ment ˈfil-ə-mənt 

: a single thread or a thin flexible threadlike object, process, or part: as

a

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

b

: a long chain of cells (as of some bacteria or algae)

c

: the anther-bearing stalk of a plant stamen

filamentous

ˌfil-ə-ˈment-əs 

adjective

Medical Definition

filament

noun

fil·​a·​ment ˈfil-ə-mənt 

: 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)

filamentous

ˌfil-ə-ˈment-əs 

adjective