Dictionary
1filigree
noun fil·i·gree \ˈfi-lə-ˌgrē\
: decoration that consists of delicate and complicated designs made of fine gold or silver wire
Full Definition of FILIGREE
1
: ornamental work especially of fine wire of gold, silver, or copper applied chiefly to gold and silver surfaces
2
a : ornamental openwork of delicate or intricate design b : a pattern or design resembling such openwork <a filigree of frost> c : ornamentation, embellishment <writings … heavy with late Victorian filigree — Jack Beatty>
See filigree defined for English-language learners
See filigree defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of FILIGREE
modification of French filigrane, from Italian filigrana, from Latin filum + granum grain — more at corn
First Known Use: 1693
Rhymes with FILIGREE
abatis, ABC, ABD, abductee, absentee, acquiree, addressee, adoptee, advisee, alienee, allottee, amputee, apogee, appellee, appointee, appraisee, après-ski, arrestee, assignee, attendee, auditee, awardee, axletree, BVD, Baha'i, bain-marie, barley-bree, batterie, billi-bi, boiserie, bonhomie, booboisie, bourgeoisie, brasserie, brusquerie, bumblebee, camphor tree, camporee, cap-a-pie, causerie, Chamonix, Cherokee, chickadee, chickaree, chimpanzee, China Sea, Christmas tree, chroma-key, coati, Coligny, conferee, consignee, cop a plea, Coral Sea, counselee, context-free, counterplea, cruelty-free, Danaë, DDT, debauchee, Debussy, departee, deportee, dernier cri, designee, detainee, devisee, devotee, diploe, disagree, dischargee, divorcé, divorcée, DME, dungaree, duty-free, eau-de-vie, employee, endorsee, enlistee, enrollee, enshrinee, epopee, escadrille, escapee, ESP, evictee, expellee, family tree, fancy-free, fantasy, fedayee, fever tree, fleur-de-lis, franchisee, fricassee, function key, galilee, Galilee, garnishee, gaucherie, Gemini, Greenland Sea, guarani, guarantee, Hawaii, HIV, Holy See, honeybee, honoree, housemaid's knee, humble-bee, inductee, Inland Sea, internee, invitee, Irish Sea, IUD, jacquerie, jamboree, Java Sea, Joshua tree, jubilee, Judas tree, jumper's knee, jus soli, Kayseri, kedgeree, kidnappee, killer bee, LCD, LED, legatee, libelee, licensee, LSD, maître d', Malay Sea, manatee, master key, Mormon tea, mortgagee, murderee, NBC, nominee, obligee, oversea, oversee, Park Chung Hee, parolee, parti pris, pass degree, patentee, pedigree, peppertree, perigee, permittee, pharisee, picotee, piroshki, point d'appui, potpourri, praecipe, presentee, promisee, public-key, rapparee, referee, refugee, rejectee, renminbi, repartee, retiree, returnee, RPV, rubber tree, saddletree, Sadducee, sangaree, Savaii, selectee, Semele, shivaree, slotting fee, snickersnee, spelling bee, spindle tree, SST, STD, Tappan Zee, Tenebrae, Tennessee, third degree, thirty-three, TNT, to a tee, toile de Jouy, torii, transferee, tulip tree, undersea, user fee, vaccinee, value-free, varnish tree, verdigris, VIP, vis-à-vis, wannabe, warrantee, Wounded Knee
2filigree
verb
fil·i·greedfil·i·gree·ing
Definition of FILIGREE
transitive verb
: to adorn with or as if with filigree
First Known Use of FILIGREE
1831
FILIGREE Defined for Kids
filigree
noun fil·i·gree \ˈfi-lə-ˌgrē\
Definition of FILIGREE for Kids
: decoration made of fine wire <a jewelry box with gold filigree>
Learn More About FILIGREE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: filing (noun)Previous Word in the Dictionary: filigrainAll Words Near: filigree
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up filigree? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).