filament
pronunciation
How to pronounce filament in British English:
UK [ˈfɪləmənt]
How to pronounce filament in American English:
US [ˈfɪləmənt]
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- Noun:
- a very slender natural or synthetic fiber
- the stalk of a stamen
- a threadlike anatomical structure or chainlike series of cells
- a thin wire (usually tungsten) that is heated white hot by the passage of an electric current
Word Origin
- filament (n.)
- "fine untwisted thread, separate fibril," 1590s, from Modern Latin filamentum, from Late Latin filare "to spin, draw out in a long line," from Latin filum "thread" (see file (v.1)). As the name of the incandescent element in a light-bulb, from 1881.
Example
- 1. A good vacuum allowed the filament to glow without catching fire .
- 2. Swan experimented with a filament of carbonized paper , but it burned out quickly .
- 3. They could refuse to light up for no apparent reason , because of some infinitesimal rupture in the filament .
- 4. The projection bulbs used in cinemas operate at just 50 c below their filament 's melting point and have to be changed every 50 hours or so .
- 5. Old-style filament light bulbs have been banned from shops across the eu from today in favour of more energy-efficient versions but is the new technology bad for your health ?