noun

filament

FIH-luh-muhnt

Filament (noun) means a very thin thread or wire-like strand. Example: “A spider spins its web from silk filaments.”

noun

A very thin thread or wire-like strand.

"A spider spins its web from silk filaments."

"The old bulb had a thin metal filament that glowed when heated."

The thin coil inside an incandescent light bulb that glows white-hot when electricity passes through it.

"When the filament finally burned out, the bulb went dark."

In botany, the thin stalk of a stamen that holds up the anther in a flower.

"Pollen forms at the tip of the filament, on the anther."

A continuous spool of material, such as the plastic thread fed into a 3D printer.

"He loaded a new roll of PLA filament into the 3D printer."

How to use filament

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA thin, thread-like strand — whether it is glowing inside a bulb, part of a flower, or feeding a 3D printer.

Common pairings

light bulb filament 3D printer filament a fine filament

Word forms

filaments plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “filament” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A spider spins its web from silk _____.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin filamentum, built on Latin filum meaning "thread."

Origin: Medieval Latin

Synonyms

View more →

strand filum fibril

Related words

hair beach chain string wire shore thread fiber

Rhymes for filament

lament ornament ligament armament sacrament testament firmament tournament parliament temperament predicament disarmament

See all rhymes for filament →

Frequently asked questions

What does “filament” mean?

The word “filament” means a very thin thread or wire-like strand. In plain terms, a thin, thread-like strand — whether it is glowing inside a bulb, part of a flower, or feeding a 3D printer.

How do you pronounce “filament”?

“Filament” is pronounced FIH-luh-muhnt (/ˈfɪləmənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “filament” in a sentence?

Here is “filament” used in a sentence: “A spider spins its web from silk filaments.”

What part of speech is “filament”?

“Filament” is a noun.

Where does the word “filament” come from?

The word “filament” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin filamentum, built on Latin filum meaning "thread.".

How many meanings does “filament” have?

“Filament” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a very thin thread or wire-like strand.

People also searched

hair beach chain string wire shore thread fiber