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
Seeking the cosmic web Initially, the researchers were looking for something else using LOFAR: the wispy filaments of the cosmic web.
—
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 25 Sep. 2024
Some clear glass halos and discs hang in space, suspended on filament.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2024
Tangent The solar region that launched the solar filament is a new region likely to be named 3820, according to Tamitha Skov, a space weather physicist and professor at Millersville University of Pennsylvania.
—Arianna Johnson, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024
Such technologies include camera capsules tethered to angel-hair-thin filaments and other even more streamlined devices that create minimally invasive direct lines of access to the small intestine.
—Christopher Damman, The Conversation, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for filament 
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 25 Sep. 2024
Some clear glass halos and discs hang in space, suspended on filament.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2024
Tangent The solar region that launched the solar filament is a new region likely to be named 3820, according to Tamitha Skov, a space weather physicist and professor at Millersville University of Pennsylvania.
—Arianna Johnson, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024
Such technologies include camera capsules tethered to angel-hair-thin filaments and other even more streamlined devices that create minimally invasive direct lines of access to the small intestine.
—Christopher Damman, The Conversation, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for filament
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'filament.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Filament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filament. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
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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