Shaped like a thread; thin, long, and cylindrical.
From Latin 'filum' (thread) combined with '-form' meaning shaped like. The term became standard in botany and anatomy to describe structures resembling fine threads, such as leaf petioles or hair-like projections.
Your taste buds include 'filiform papillae'—threadlike bumps on your tongue that help you sense texture, and they're covered in taste receptors that make spicy food feel different from smooth pudding!
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