Word
filament
Phoneticsfil·a·ment, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɪɫəmənt/
UK/fˈɪləmənt/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a very thin wire or thread. You usually see this inside an old light bulb or as part of a flower.
n. a slender, threadlike object or fibre, such as the wire in an incandescent lamp or the stalk of a stamen.
Examples
“The light bulb stopped working because the filament broke.”
“The 3D printer feeds a plastic filament through a heated nozzle to create the object layer by layer.”
“In the early twentieth century, engineers experimented with various materials before discovering that a tungsten filament could withstand the high temperatures required for prolonged illumination.”
Examples
simple
“The light bulb stopped working because the filament broke.”
contextual
“The 3D printer feeds a plastic filament through a heated nozzle to create the object layer by layer.”
complex
“In the early twentieth century, engineers experimented with various materials before discovering that a tungsten filament could withstand the high temperatures required for prolonged illumination.”
Usage
Commonly used in technical contexts like electronics, 3D printing, and biology.
Real-World Examples
“Rather, it breaks apart the membrane that covers jaw-muscle fibers, causing contractions strong enough to damage or destroy the muscle filaments that slide past each other when the muscles contract.” “Thick lanes of dust stand out as dark filaments because they are dense enough to resist being worn away, creating dramatic contrast against the glowing red clouds.” “Within filaments of Methanothrix soehngenii , the most important methane producer on Earth, the researchers noticed that individual cells were dead.” “Out in the wild, turbulent air swirls these plumes into a chaotic, broken landscape—dense chemical filaments laced through long stretches of clean air.” Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin fīlāmentum, from Late Latin fīlō (“to spin, draw out in a long line”), from Latin fīlum (“thread”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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