filigree

fil·i·gree | \ ˈfi-lə-ˌgrē

How to pronounce filigree (audio)

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Definition of filigree

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : ornamental work especially of fine wire of gold, silver, or copper applied chiefly to gold and silver surfaces a headband decorated with silver filigree

2a : ornamental openwork of delicate or intricate design

b : a pattern or design resembling such openwork a filigree of frost

c : ornamentation, embellishment writings … heavy with late Victorian filigree— Jack Beatty

filigree

filigreed; filigreeing

Definition of filigree (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to adorn with or as if with filigree

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Examples of filigree in a Sentence

Noun a surface decorated with filigree and pearls

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Its pampering, filigree and refinement will compare to other luxury marques costing tens of thousands more. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Kia K900: A crazy-rich VIP for the middle class," 6 Oct. 2019 The gold filigree drop earrings were even on sale recently for less than $2! — Moniquejessen, PEOPLE.com, "Meghan Markle Wears $13,500 Dress with $6 Earrings in the Ultimate High-Low Fashion Moment!," 23 Sep. 2019 The interior features distressed wood, Western-style filigree metal and perforated leather seats. — Dallas News, "This round in Truck Wars goes to the 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 diesel," 23 Aug. 2019 The interior features distressed wood, Western-style filigree metal and perforated leather seats. — Dallas News, "This round in Truck Wars goes to the 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 diesel," 23 Aug. 2019 The engine and cars of the railroad had the distinctive curlicues and filigree of Emett’s illustrations. — John Kelly, Washington Post, "Air and Space Museum used to feature flying machines of the strangest sort," 27 July 2019 The interior features distressed wood, Western-style filigree metal and perforated leather seats. — Dallas News, "This round in Truck Wars goes to the 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 diesel," 23 Aug. 2019 The interior features distressed wood, Western-style filigree metal and perforated leather seats. — Dallas News, "This round in Truck Wars goes to the 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 diesel," 23 Aug. 2019 The interior features distressed wood, Western-style filigree metal and perforated leather seats. — Dallas News, "This round in Truck Wars goes to the 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 diesel," 23 Aug. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Another helpful move was using what Bugatti calls filigree side view mirrors, which let air pass through them. — Alex Davies, WIRED, "Want to Burn $9 Million to Go 236 MPH? Try the New Bugatti," 19 Aug. 2019 In contrast to the historic skyscraper’s filigreed crown of flying buttresses and pinnacles, the top of the new one would consist of curving glass walls extending beyond the building’s occupied floors. — Blair Kamin And Ryan Ori, chicagotribune.com, "Developers plan city's second-tallest skyscraper next to new Tribune Tower condos," 16 Apr. 2018 The Mulsanne is a large luxury superliner of Bentley refinement and filigree that work flawlessly as luxurious separators from the competition, mainly the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Mercedes-Maybach S600. — Mark Maynard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "2017 Bentley Mulsanne: A battle hymn of tradition and stoic provenance," 11 Aug. 2017 St. Petersburg is a museum city, its gold-filigreed heart pulsing with tsarist palaces, Baroque churches, and Art Nouveau mansions. — Sophie Pinkham, New Republic, "How a Russian Street Art Museum Defies Kremlin Censors," 3 July 2017

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

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Last Updated

12 Nov 2019

Time Traveler for filigree

The first known use of filigree was in 1693

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