What does "filigree" mean?
A delicate and intricate ornamentation made from platinum, gold or silver (or sometimes other metal) twisted wire.
Filigree
noun, verb
noun, verb ·3 syllables ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A delicate and intricate ornamentation made from platinum, gold or silver (or sometimes other metal) twisted wire.
- Grammar: filigree is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: adorn, arabesque, basketry, basketwork.
- Useful contrasts: deface, disfigure, plain.
- Usage evidence: To carry pure death in an earring, a casket, / A signet, a fan-mount, a filigree basket!
How to use "filigree"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "filigree" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "filigree" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "filigree" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "filigree" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "filigree" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adorn" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "filigree", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A delicate and intricate ornamentation made from platinum, gold or silver (or sometimes other metal) twisted wire. countable, uncountable
"To carry pure death in an earring, a casket, / A signet, a fan-mount, a filigree basket!"
- 2 delicate and intricate ornamentation (usually in gold or silver or other fine twisted wire) wordnet
- 3 Anything resembling such intricate ornamentation. broadly, countable, uncountable
"But why speak about her? It is probable that we shall not hear of her again from this moment to the end of time, and that when the great filigree iron gates are once closed on her, she and her awful sister will never issue therefrom into this little world of history."
Verb
- 1 To decorate something with intricate ornamentation made from gold or silver twisted wire. transitive
- 2 make filigree, as with a precious metal wordnet
Example
"To carry pure death in an earring, a casket, / A signet, a fan-mount, a filigree basket!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "filigree"?
Common synonyms include: adorn, arabesque, basketry, basketwork, bead, bejewel.
How do you use "filigree" in a sentence?
To carry pure death in an earring, a casket, / A signet, a fan-mount, a filigree basket!
Etymology
From French filigrane, from Italian filigrana, from Latin fīlum (“thread”) + grānum (“grain”).