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
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
That means a course of action that targets everything from blackheads to excess sebum production to sebaceous filaments, the thin threads that tend to pop up on your nose, to even redness, which can cause skin to swell, enhancing the appearance of pores.
—
Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
The cosmic web is the term scientists use to describe a skeleton-like framework of filaments and sheets of dark matter and gas along which galaxies gathered and evolved over time, which is punctuated by nearly empty voids.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 May 2026
Holley uses line in the 25-pound range, filament that enables him to muscle fish out of the thick stuff and bend his hooks free of hangups without losing the terminal tackle.
—John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
Because of these long, tentacle-like filaments, Messier 77 is also known as the Squid Galaxy.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for filament
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Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
The cosmic web is the term scientists use to describe a skeleton-like framework of filaments and sheets of dark matter and gas along which galaxies gathered and evolved over time, which is punctuated by nearly empty voids.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 May 2026
Holley uses line in the 25-pound range, filament that enables him to muscle fish out of the thick stuff and bend his hooks free of hangups without losing the terminal tackle.
—John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
Because of these long, tentacle-like filaments, Messier 77 is also known as the Squid Galaxy.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for filament
Cite this Entry
“Filament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filament. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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)
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