fillet

noun
fil·​let | \ ˈfi-lət How to pronounce fillet (audio) , in sense 2b also fi-ˈlā, ˈfi-(ˌ)lā How to pronounce fillet (audio) \
variants: or less commonly filet \ fi-​ˈlā How to pronounce filet (audio) , ˈfi-​(ˌ)lā \

Definition of fillet

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a ribbon or narrow strip of material used especially as a headband
2a : a thin narrow strip of material
b : a piece or slice of boneless meat or fish especially : the tenderloin of beef
3a : a concave junction formed where two surfaces meet (as at an angle)
b : a strip that gives a rounded appearance to such a junction also : a strip to reinforce the corner where two surfaces meet
4 : a narrow flat architectural member:
a : a flat molding separating others
b : the space between two flutings (see flute entry 1 sense 3) in a shaft

fillet

verb
fil·​let | \ ˈfi-lət How to pronounce fillet (audio) , in sense 2 also fi-ˈlā, ˈfi-(ˌ)lā\
filleted; filleting; fillets

Definition of fillet (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to bind, furnish, or adorn with or as if with a fillet
2 : to cut into fillets

Examples of fillet in a Sentence

Noun

a juicy fillet of beef

Verb

He carefully filleted the fish with a sharp knife.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

But with changing eating habits and the explosion of new barbecue restaurants, Sam gradually expanded and modernized Demetri’s menu, including the addition of low-carb specials featuring chicken fillet, beef brisket, or smoked tuna. Eric Velasco, al.com, "Learn the decades-old secrets of this Homewood barbecue joint," 24 June 2019 Add the coconut milk, then immediately remove the pan from the heat and carefully turn each fillet over. Nik Sharma, SFChronicle.com, "Recipe: Macher Malaikari (Fish in Coconut Milk)," 21 June 2019 Using half the paste, coat one side of each fillet. CBS News, "The Dish: Chef Priya Krishna reveals her signature recipes," 15 June 2019 Gertrude went into the kitchen, coated fish fillets with cornmeal and fried them for everyone. Lizzie Presser, ProPublica, "The Reels Brothers Spent Eight Years in Jail for Refusing to Leave It.," 15 July 2019 Remove the pork fillets, cover them with aluminum foil, and keep them warm. Multiple Authors, House Beautiful, "Quick and Easy Pork Fillets in Wine Recipe," 5 Aug. 2010 Place a halibut fillet on top of the pasta on each plate and spoon remaining sauce from the casserole over the fish. Wolfgang Puck, Twin Cities, "Summer sauce: This fish dish highlights the season’s tomato harvest," 24 July 2019 Here are the pro steps to getting it right, with tips on heat and timing, from whole fish to fillets to kebabs. Chicago Tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, "9 great recipes for summer grilling," 5 July 2019 Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet and, working in batches, cook 2 fillets until golden brown, about 4 minutes. The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Lime Tilapia with Citrus-Avocado Salsa," 1 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The two officers also found more than 70 bags of filleted panfish. Micah Walker, Detroit Free Press, "Gladwin fisherman caught with more than 1,400 panfish in garage," 22 Aug. 2019 Our children and neighbors’ kids flocked to its sides to learn to fillet fish. Popular Mechanics, "A Homesteading Necessity: The Neighborhood Workbench," 30 June 2019 McDonald has proposed that the leftovers after the fish are filleted be used as bait. Andrew Hetherington, National Geographic, "Maine is running out of lobster bait. Is salmon the answer?," 1 May 2019 Yes, there’s a perfect way of roasting a chicken, filleting fish, of doing all these things. Rachel King, Fortune, "Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski on Netflix, Social Media, and Opening a Restaurant," 30 June 2019 There will be flowers, singing, men and women in white robes, and filleted human corpses flopping about. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, "Midsommar Loses Its Plot Under a Sinister Midnight Sun," 27 June 2019 Remove and discard any skin and pin bones from salmon; cut fillet into ½-inch cubes; store in refrigerator until ready to use. Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, "Fresh salmon gets a lift in this picture-perfect stack," 21 June 2019 In mid-May, when the first Copper River kings and sockeye arrive from Alaska, a whole king of 20 or more pounds might sell for upwards of $40 per pound at Pike Place Market; cleaned and filleted, the same fish costs nearly double. Corey Arnold, National Geographic, "Why wild salmon remains king in the Pacific Northwest," 27 Mar. 2019 The salmon and steelhead are all filleted and sold at the market. Corey Arnold, National Geographic, "Why wild salmon remains king in the Pacific Northwest," 27 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fillet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of fillet

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for fillet

Noun and Verb

Middle English filet, from Anglo-French, diminutive of fil thread, from Latin filum — more at file

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More Definitions for fillet

fillet

noun

English Language Learners Definition of fillet

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a piece or slice of boneless meat or fish

fillet

verb

English Language Learners Definition of fillet (Entry 2 of 2)

: to cut (meat or fish) into fillets

fillet

noun
fil·​let | \ ˈfi-lət How to pronounce fillet (audio) , fi-ˈlā\

Kids Definition of fillet

: a piece of boneless meat or fish

fillet

noun
fil·​let | \ ˈfil-ət How to pronounce fillet (audio) \

Medical Definition of fillet

: a band of anatomical fibers specifically : lemniscus

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