filament

 
Pronunciation: /ˈfɪləm(ə)nt/

noun

  • 1a slender thread-like object or fibre, especially one found in animal or plant structures: each myosin filament is usually surrounded by 12 actin filaments
  • Botany the slender part of a stamen that supports the anther.
  • Astronomy a narrow streamer from the sun’s chromosphere or in its corona.
  • 2a conducting wire or thread with a high melting point, forming part of an electric bulb or thermionic valve and heated or made incandescent by an electric current.

Derivatives

filamentary

Pronunciation: /-ˈmɛnt(ə)ri/
adjective

filamented

adjective

filamentous

Pronunciation: /-ˈmɛntəs/
adjective

Origin:

late 16th century: from French, or from modern Latin filamentum, from late Latin filare 'to spin', from Latin filum 'thread'