Word Study
filament
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun filament has 4 senses
- filament(n = noun.substance) fibril, strand - a very slender natural or synthetic fiber; Array has particulars: barb, cobweb, gossamer, chromatid, myofibril, myofibrilla, sarcostyle, rhizoid, hypha, paraphysis
- filament(n = noun.plant) Array - the stalk of a stamen; Array is a kind of stalk, stem
- filament(n = noun.body) filum - a threadlike structure (as a chainlike series of cells); Array is a kind of anatomical structure, bodily structure, body structure, complex body part, structure
- filament(n = noun.artifact) Array - a thin wire (usually tungsten) that is heated white hot by the passage of an electric current; Array is a part of bulb, electric-light bulb, electric light, incandescent lamp, light bulb, lightbulb
is a kind of fiber, fibre
Derived form adjective filamentous1
has particulars: hair, pilus
is a kind of conducting wire, wire
CIDE DICTIONARY
filament, n. [F. filament, fr. L. filum thread. See File a row.].
A thread or threadlike object or appendage; a fiber; [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
filament, n.
1 a slender threadlike body or fibre (esp. in animal or vegetable structures).
2 a conducting wire or thread with a high melting-point in an electric bulb or thermionic valve, heated or made incandescent by an electric current.
3 Bot. the part of the stamen that supports the anther.
4 archaic (of air, light, etc.) a notional train of particles following each other.
1 a slender threadlike body or fibre (esp. in animal or vegetable structures).
2 a conducting wire or thread with a high melting-point in an electric bulb or thermionic valve, heated or made incandescent by an electric current.
3 Bot. the part of the stamen that supports the anther.
4 archaic (of air, light, etc.) a notional train of particles following each other.
Derivative
filamentary adj. filamented adj. filamentous adj.
Etymology
F filament or mod.L filamentum f. LL filare spin f. L filum thread
ROGET THESAURUS
filament
Filament
N filament, line, fiber, fibril, funicle, vein, hair, capillament, cilium, cilia, pilus, pili, tendril, gossamer, hair stroke, veinlet, venula, venule, wire, string, thread, packthread, cotton, sewing silk, twine, twist, whipcord, tape, ribbon, cord, rope, yarn, hemp, oakum, jute, strip, shred, slip, spill, list, band, fillet, fascia, ribbon, riband, roll, lath, splinter, shiver, shaving, beard, ramification, strand, filamentous, filamentiferous, filaceous, filiform, fibrous, fibrillous, thread-like, wiry, stringy, ropy, capillary, capilliform, funicular, wire-drawn, anguilliform, flagelliform, hairy, taeniate, taeniform, taenioid, venose, venous.Luminary
N luminary, light, flame, spark, scintilla, phosphorescence, fluorescence, sun, orb of day, Phoebus, Apollo, Aurora, star, orb, meteor, falling star, shooting star, blazing star, dog star, Sirius, canicula, Aldebaran, constellation, galaxy, zodiacal light, anthelion, day star, morning star, Lucifer, mock sun, parhelion, phosphor, phosphorus, sun dog, Venus, aurora, polar lights, northern lights, aurora borealis, southern lights, aurora australis, lightning, chain lightning, fork lightning, sheet lightning, summer lightning, ball lightning, kugelblitz, phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, scintillator, phosphor, firefly luminescence, ignis fatuus, Jack o'lantern, Friar's lantern, will-o'-the- wisp, firedrake, Fata Morgana, Saint Elmo's fire, glowworm, firefly, June bug, lightning bug, anglerfish, gas, gas light, lime light, lantern, lanthorn, dark lantern, bull's-eye, candle, bougie, taper, rushlight, oil, wick, burner, Argand, moderator, duplex, torch, flambeau, link, brand, gaselier, chandelier, electrolier, candelabrum, candelabra, girandole, sconce, luster, candlestick, lamp, light, incandescent lamp, tungsten bulb, light bulb, flashlight, torch, arc light, laser, maser neon bulb, neon sign, fluorescent lamp, filament, socket, contacts, filler gas, firework, fizgig, pyrotechnics, rocket, lighthouse, self-luminous, glowing, phosphoric, phosphorescent, fluorescent, incandescent, luminescent, chemiluminescent, radiant, blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels, the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky, the planets in their station list'ning stood, the Scriptures of the skies, that orbed continent, the fire that severs day from night.
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