filigree

[ fil-i-gree ]

noun

1. delicate ornamental work of fine silver, gold, or other metal wires, especially lacy jewelers' work of scrolls and arabesques.
2. anything very delicate or fanciful:

   a filigree of frost.

adjective

1. composed of or resembling filigree.

verb (used with object)

, fil·i·greed, fil·i·gree·ing.

1. to adorn with or form into filigree.

filigree

/ ˈfɪlɪˌɡriː /

noun

1. delicate ornamental work of twisted gold, silver, or other wire
2. any fanciful delicate ornamentation

adjective

1. made of or as if with filigree

verb

1. tr to decorate with or as if with filigree

Derived Forms

• ˈfiliˌgreed, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of filigree¹

First recorded in 1685–95; earlier filigreen, variant of filigrain

Word History and Origins

Origin of filigree¹

C17: from earlier filigreen , from French filigrane , from Latin fīlum thread + grānum grain

Example Sentences

Trina wears her wampum beads She fills her drawing book with line Sewing lace on widow’s weeds And filigree on leaf and vine.

From New York Times

For all the political filigree, “The Regime” boils down to a love story of sorts between Elena and Herbert, and the stripped gears of their shifting power dynamic.

From Los Angeles Times

The heart of the track is his crystalline vocal, which carries over his steady piano work, with a few splashes of filigree on the bridge.

From New York Times

The look of it reminded Ella of a jewelry box she'd spotted on Gran's dresser with writhing filigree, twisted threads of gold on its lid.

From Literature

Live shows are also becoming more ambitious in scale and filigree, underscoring how big concerts are becoming experiential luxury goods.

From New York Times

Related Words

• lattice