1. Slender threadlike roundworms living in the blood and tissues of vertebrates; transmitted as larvae by biting insects
   "The mosquito transmitted filaria to the human host"
    
2. European weed naturalized in southwestern United States and Mexico having reddish decumbent stems with small fernlike leaves and small deep reddish-lavender flowers followed by slender fruits that stick straight up; often grown for forage
   "Filaria has spread extensively across the desert regions";
   - redstem storksbill, alfilaria, alfileria, filaree, pin grass, pin clover, Erodium cicutarium

Derived forms: filariae

Type of: heron's bill, nematode, nematode worm, roundworm, storksbill

Part of: family Filariidae, Filariidae

Encyclopedia: Filaria