A filament is a very thin piece or thread of something, for example the piece of wire inside a light bulb.
Synonyms: strand, string, wire, fibre More Synonyms of filament
filament in British English
(ˈfɪləmənt)
noun
1.
the thin wire, usually tungsten, inside a light bulb that emits light when heated to incandescence by an electric current
2. electronics
a high-resistance wire or ribbon, forming the cathode in some valves
3.
a single strand of a natural or synthetic fibre; fibril
4. botany
a.
the stalk of a stamen
b.
any of the long slender chains of cells into which some algae and fungi are divided
5. ornithology
the barb of a down feather
6. anatomy
any slender structure or part, such as the tail of a spermatozoon; filum
7. astronomy
a.
a long structure of relatively cool material in the solar corona
b.
a long large-scale cluster of galaxies
Derived forms
filamentary (ˌfɪləˈmɛntərɪ, -trɪ) or filamentous (ˌfilaˈmentous)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from New Latin fīlāmentum, from Medieval Latin fīlāre to spin, from Latin fīlum thread
filament in American English
(ˈfɪləmənt)
noun
1.
a very slender thread or fiber
2.
a threadlike part
; specif.,
a.
the fine metal wire in a light bulb which becomes incandescent when heated by an electric current
b.
the cathode of a thermionic tube, usually in the form of a wire, which may be electrically heated
3. Botany
the stalk of a stamen bearing the anther
Derived forms
filamentary (ˌfilaˈmentary) (ˌfɪləˈmɛntəri)
adjective
filamentous (ˌfilaˈmentous) (ˌfɪləˈmɛntəs)
adjective
Word origin
Fr < ML filamentum < LL filare, to spin < L filum: see file1
filament in Electrical Engineering
(fɪləmənt)
Word forms: (regular plural) filaments
noun
(Electrical engineering: General)
A filament is the thin wire inside a light bulb that emits light when heated by an electriccurrent.
The incandescent light bulb makes light by heating a metal filament wire to a high temperature until it glows.
If you close the switch for a fraction of a second, then open it for the same amountof time, the filament won't have time to cool down and heat up, and you will just get an average glow of50W.
A filament is the thin wire inside a light bulb that emits light when heated by an electriccurrent.
Examples of 'filament' in a sentence
filament
This was going to prove the hardest bit of all - breaking the envelope without damaging the filament inside.
MacNeill, Alastair CODE BREAKER (2004)
The antenna and its filament mesh stretched nearly one hundred yards and could be jettisoned by verbal command.
Dale Brown and Jim DeFelice DALE BROWN'S DREAMLAND (5) STRIKE ZONE (2004)
Word lists with
filament
terms used in botany, parts of plants
(noun)
Definition
a single strand of fibre
Some models use a carbon filament.
Synonyms
strand
high fences, topped by strands of barbed wire
string
He held out a small bag tied with string.
wire
fibre
a variety of coloured fibres
thread
a hat embroidered with golden threads
staple
wisp
She smoothed away a wisp of hair from her eyes.
cilium (biology, zoology)
fibril
pile
the carpet's thick pile
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fibre
Definition
a threadlike animal or plant tissue
a variety of coloured fibres
Synonyms
thread,
strand,
filament,
tendril,
pile,
texture,
staple,
wisp,
fibril
in the sense of pile
Definition
the fibres in a fabric that stand up or out from the weave, such as in carpeting or velvet
the carpet's thick pile
Synonyms
nap,
fibre,
down,
hair,
surface,
fur,
plush,
shag,
filament
in the sense of string
Definition
thin cord or twine used for tying, hanging, or binding things
He held out a small bag tied with string.
Synonyms
cord,
yarn,
twine,
wire,
strand,
rope,
fibre,
thread,
hawser,
ligature
Nearby words of
filament
figure something out
figured
figurehead
filament
filch
file
filial
Synonyms of 'filament'
filament
Explore 'filament' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of thread
Definition
a fine cord of twisted yarns, esp. of cotton, used in sewing or weaving