Illustration of filigree
- filigree 2a
fil·i·gree
ˈfi-lə-ˌgrē 
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
2
a
: 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
Jack Beatty
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Ornamental work formerly made with grains or beads is called filigree. It comes from an Italian word made from the Latin words for thread and grain. Today filigree is usually of fine wire of gold, silver, or copper, and is used chiefly to decorate gold and silver surfaces. Filigree can also apply to any ornamental openwork of delicate or intricate design or to a pattern or design resembling such openwork.
Examples of filigree in a Sentence
Noun
a surface decorated with filigree and pearls
Recent Examples on the Web
Sandra Jordan, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
There were also some production filigrees that evoked Owens’ old stomping grounds, such as quick shots of reporters on the ground telling viewers to stay tuned for their coming stories.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
Vivian Yee, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2020
Another helpful move was using what Bugatti calls filigree side view mirrors, which let air pass through them.
—Alex Davies, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2019
See All Example Sentences for filigree
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Noun
But most of his filigree is sold from his studio and many are custom orders.
—Sandra Jordan, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
There were also some production filigrees that evoked Owens’ old stomping grounds, such as quick shots of reporters on the ground telling viewers to stay tuned for their coming stories.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
Two years and much ado later, Raghda serves lattes filigreed with milk art at a strip-mall coffee shop and Rafaa hosts community gatherings at an event space across the way.
—Vivian Yee, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2020
Another helpful move was using what Bugatti calls filigree side view mirrors, which let air pass through them.
—Alex Davies, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2019
See All Example Sentences for filigree
Cite this Entry
“Filigree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filigree. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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