filament
UK: ˈfɪləmənt | US: ˈfɪləmənt
n. a thin thread or fiber, often flexible and delicate
n. (botany) the slender stalk of a stamen in a flower
n. (physics) the thin wire inside a light bulb that emits light when heated
filament = fila<thread> + ment<noun suffix>
- fila: From Latin filum ("thread"), referring to thin, thread-like structures.
- ment: A noun-forming suffix derived from Latin -mentum, indicating a concrete result or instrument.
Etymology Origin:
The word filament traces back to Latin filum ("thread"), reflecting its core meaning of thin, thread-like forms. The suffix -ment was added in Late Latin (filamentum) to denote tangible objects, later adopted into Middle French (filament) and English. The term originally described natural fibers (e.g., silk threads) and later expanded to artificial or scientific contexts (e.g., light bulb filaments). The progression highlights how Latin roots evolved to describe both organic and technological "threads."
The spider’s web was made of a single, almost invisible filament.
In tulips, the filament supports the anther, which produces pollen.
Edison experimented with carbonized bamboo to create a durable filament for his light bulb.
The 3D printer extrudes a plastic filament to build objects layer by layer.
Under the microscope, the muscle tissue revealed fine filaments of actin and myosin.