figure
[ fig-yer; especially British fig-er ]
/ ˈfɪg yər; especially British ˈfɪg ər /
noun
a numerical symbol, especially an Arabic numeral.
an amount or value expressed in numbers.
figures,
the use of numbers in calculating; arithmetic: to be poor at figures.
a written symbol other than a letter.
form or shape, as determined by outlines or exterior surfaces: to be round, square, or cubical in figure.
the bodily form or frame: a slender or graceful figure.
an individual bodily form or a person with reference to form or appearance: A tall figure stood in the doorway.
a character or personage, especially one of distinction: a well-known figure in society.
a person's public image or presence: a controversial political figure.
the appearance or impression made by a person or sometimes a thing: to make quite a figure in financial circles; to present a wretched figure of poverty.
a representation, pictorial or sculptured, especially of the human form: The frieze was bordered with the figures of men and animals.
an emblem, type, or symbol: The dove is a figure of peace.
Rhetoric.
a figure of speech.
a textural pattern, as in cloth or wood: draperies with an embossed silk figure.
a distinct movement or division of a dance.
a movement, pattern, or series of movements in skating.
Music.
a short succession of musical notes, as either a melody or a group of chords, that produces a single complete and distinct impression.
Geometry.
a combination of geometric elements disposed in a particular form or shape: The circle, square, and polygon are plane figures. The sphere, cube, and polyhedron are solid figures.
Logic.
the form of a categorical syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
Optics.
the precise curve required on the surface of an optical element, especially the mirror or correcting plate of a reflecting telescope.
the natural pattern on a sawed wood surface produced by the intersection of knots, burls, growth rings, etc.
a phantasm or illusion.
verb (used with object), fig·ured, fig·ur·ing.
to compute or calculate (often followed by up): to figure up a total.
to express in figures.
to mark or adorn with a design or pattern.
to portray by speech or action.
to represent or express by a figure of speech.
to represent by a pictorial or sculptured figure, a diagram, or the like; picture or depict; trace (an outline, silhouette, etc.).
Informal.
to conclude, judge, reason, or think about: I figured that you wanted me to stay.
Music.
- to embellish with passing notes or other decorations.
- to write figures above or below (a bass part) to indicate accompanying chords.
verb (used without object), fig·ured, fig·ur·ing.
to compute or work with numerical figures.
to be or appear, especially in a conspicuous or prominent way: His name figures importantly in my report.
Informal.
(of a situation, act, request, etc.) to be logical, expected, or reasonable: He quit the job when he didn't get a raise—it figured.
Verb Phrases
figure in,
to add in: Figure in rent and utilities as overhead.
figure on, Informal.
- to count or rely on.
- to take into consideration; plan on: You had better figure on running into heavy traffic leaving the city.
figure out, Informal.
- to understand; solve: We couldn't figure out where all the money had gone.
- to calculate; compute.
figure up, Informal.
to total: The bill figures up to exactly $1000.
Idioms for figure
cut a figure.
cut(defs 84, 85b).
Origin of figure
1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin
figūra shape, trope, equivalent to
fig- (base of
fingere to shape) +
-ūra
-ure
OTHER WORDS FROM figure
fig·ur·a·ble, adjective
fig·ure·less, adjective
fig·ur·er, noun
out·fig·ure, verb (used with object), out·fig·ured, out·fig·ur·ing.
re·fig·ure, verb (used with object), re·fig·ured, re·fig·ur·ing.
sub·fig·ure, noun
un·fig·ur·a·ble, adjective
Words nearby figure
Example sentences from the Web for figure
The people who are involved in the violence, they figure out ways to remain here at all costs and continue causing trouble.
Several of them disputed the figure of six million Jewish deaths in the Holocaust.
Iggy Azalea herself might not even understand how polarizing and important a figure Iggy Azalea has become.
Meanwhile, politicos were already trying to figure out their next play.
The Felon Who Wouldn’t Leave Congress |Ben Jacobs, David Freedlander |December 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I figure if he just says jute enough times, it will all pass and we'll get back to the scene.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days |David Freeman |December 13, 2014 |DAILY BEASTThe figure was clearly alien, though startlingly humanoid—at least from the waist up, which was all that showed in the screen.
A Matter of Magnitude |Al SevcikMrs. Parflete is a beautiful creature, but quite a child, and therefore weedy as to figure.
Robert Orange |John Oliver HobbesA figure, seen indistinctly in the darkness, stood before her.
From Canal Boy to President |Horatio Alger, Jr.The figure is broken at the waist, and the upper part is thrown back on the ground.
What We Saw in Egypt |AnonymousIn direct truth the figure might well be the work of Niccol Liberatore, and is conceived on the lines of his school.
Great Masters in Painting: Perugino |George C. Williamson
British Dictionary definitions for figure
figure
/ (ˈfɪɡə, US ˈfɪɡjər) /
noun
any written symbol other than a letter, esp a whole number
another name for digit (def. 2)
an amount expressed numerically
a figure of 1800 was suggested
(plural)
calculations with numbers
he's good at figures
visible shape or form; outline
the human form, esp as regards size or shape
a girl with a slender figure
a slim bodily shape (esp in the phrases keep or lose one's figure)
a character or personage, esp a prominent or notable one; personality
a figure in politics
the impression created by a person through behaviour (esp in the phrase to cut a fine, bold, etc, figure)
- a person as impressed on the mindthe figure of Napoleon
- (in combination)father-figure
a representation in painting or sculpture, esp of the human form
an illustration or explanatory diagram in a text
a representative object or symbol; emblem
a pattern or design, as on fabric or in wood
a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating
geometry
any combination of points, lines, curves, or planes. A plane figure, such as a circle, encloses an area; a solid figure such as a sphere, encloses a volume
rhetoric See figure of speech
logic
one of the four possible arrangements of the three terms in the premises of a syllogism
Compare mood 2 (def. 2)
music
- a numeral written above or below a note in a partSee figured bass, thorough bass
- a characteristic short pattern of notes
verb
(when tr, often foll by up)
to calculate or compute (sums, amounts, etc)
(tr; usually takes a clause as object) informal, mainly US, Canadian and NZ
to think or conclude; consider
(tr)
to represent by a diagram or illustration
(tr)
to pattern or mark with a design
(tr)
to depict or portray in a painting, etc
(tr) rhetoric
to express by means of a figure of speech
(tr)
to imagine
(tr) music
- to decorate (a melody line or part) with ornamentation
- to provide figures above or below (a bass part) as an indication of the accompanying harmonies requiredSee figured bass, thorough bass
(intr usually foll by in)
to be included
his name figures in the article
(intr) informal
to accord with expectation; be logical
it figures that he wouldn't come
go figure informal
an expression of surprise, astonishment, wonder, etc
See also
figure on,
figure out
Derived forms of figure
figureless, adjective figurer, nounWord Origin for figure
C13: from Latin
figūra a shape, from
fingere to mould
Medical definitions for figure
figure
[ fĭg′yər ]
n.
A form or shape, as of the human body.
A person representing the essential aspects of a particular role.
Idioms and Phrases with figure
figure
In addition to the idioms beginning with figure
- figure in
- figure on
- figure out
- figure up
also see:
- ballpark figure
- in round numbers (figures)
- it figures