# fillet

/fəˈɫeɪ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fillet
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a thin, flat piece of meat, like beef or fish, that is cut from the bone. It is also a thin strip of stone or wood used to decorate a building.

For teachers: a thin, flat piece of meat, typically cut from a bone; also, a thin strip of stone, wood, or metal used as a decorative element in architecture or sculpture.

## Examples

- The chef prepared a delicate fillet of salmon for the main course.
- The architect specified that the entrance should be framed with a gold fillet to highlight the carved stone.
- The restoration team carefully cleaned the marble fillet, revealing the intricate carvings that had been hidden by centuries of grime and neglect.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.