rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryfilamentThin strand
noun

filament

FIL-uh-munt/ˈfɪləmənt/

A thin, threadlike strand or structure.

The bulb’s filament forms a fine coil between two supports.

Filament: macro view inside a clear incandescent bulb, extremely fine tungsten coil stretched between two support wires, delicate threadlike structure in sharp focus.
Etymology
filamentLatinfine thread

Latin filamentum comes from a verb meaning 'to spin, draw out in a long line.' That thread-making image explains its use for a fine, threadlike strand.

In context

Why0:00
why doesn't the filament in a light bulb burn out the thin metal wire in an incandescent bulb gets so hot when an electric current flows through it that it heats up and begins to Glow
Why doesn't the filament in a light bulb burn out?

More examples

  • The bulb’s filament glowed when current passed through it.
  • The spider produced a fine filament of silk.
  • The microscope revealed delicate filaments in the sample.

Forms

filament · filaments

Similar words

fiber
A fiber is a thin strand of material; filament often emphasizes a single very fine continuous thread.
thread
Thread can be spun from many fibers; a filament can be one natural or artificial strand.