I. noun
also fil·a·gree ˈfiləˌgrē
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: short for earlier filigreen, filagreen, modification of French filigrane, from Italian filigrana, from fili- (from Latin filum thread) + grana grain, from Latin, plural of granum grain — more at file , corn
1. : ornamental work formerly with grains or beads but now especially of fine wire of gold, silver, or copper that is used chiefly to decorate gold and silver surfaces
2.
a. : ornamental openwork of delicate or intricate design
b. : a pattern or design resembling such openwork
[s]filigree.jpg[/s] [
filigree 2a
]
II. transitive verb
( filigreed ; filigreed ; filigreeing ; filigrees )
: to adorn with or as if with filigree
III. noun
: ornamentation : embellishment
writings … heavy with late Victorian filigree — Jack Beatty