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figure
[ fig-yer; especially British fig-er ]
noun
- a numerical symbol, especially an Arabic numeral.
Synonyms: number
- 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.
Synonyms: personality
- 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 instructive or illustrative drawing or diagram, as found in a book or an owner’s manual:
To attach the wheels to the base of the cabinet, see figure 4.
- 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)
- to compute or calculate (often followed by up ):
to figure up a total.
Synonyms: reckon
- 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)
- 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 phrase
- Informal.
- to understand; solve:
We couldn't figure out where all the money had gone.
- to calculate; compute.
- Informal.
- to count or rely on.
- to take into consideration; plan on:
You had better figure on running into heavy traffic leaving the city.
- Informal. to total:
The bill figures up to exactly $1000.
- to add in:
Figure in rent and utilities as overhead.
figure
/ ˈfɪɡə; ˈfɪɡjər /
noun
- any written symbol other than a letter, esp a whole number
- another name for digit
- 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 mind
the 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
- music
- a numeral written above or below a note in a part See figured bass thorough bass
- a characteristic short pattern of notes
verb
- whentr, often foll by up to calculate or compute (sums, amounts, etc)
- informal.tr; usually takes a clause as object 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 required See figured bass thorough bass
- intrusually foll byin to be included
his name figures in the article
- informal.intr to accord with expectation; be logical
it figures that he wouldn't come
- go figure informal.an expression of surprise, astonishment, wonder, etc
Derived Forms
- ˈfigurer, noun
- ˈfigureless, adjective
Other Words From
- fig·ur·a·ble adjective
- fig·ure·less adjective
- fig·ur·er noun
- out·fig·ure verb (used with object) outfigured outfiguring
- re·fig·ure verb (used with object) refigured refiguring
- sub·fig·ure noun
- un·fig·ur·a·ble adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of figure1
Idioms and Phrases
- cut a figure. cut ( defs 87, 88b ).
More idioms and phrases containing figure
- ballpark figure
- in round numbers (figures)
- it figures
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
“The whole of August was cloudy, so we weren’t able to document a single trip,” Mr Byrne says, leading his team to believe that one million barrels is a “baseline” figure.
O'Dowd told the programme that he doesn't "recognise" figures from industry bodies, who have described the housing backlog as a "fiasco".
The figures marked an improvement compared with the $62-million loss it posted for the same period last year on $2.2 billion in revenue.
Last year's Coronation of King Charles III cost taxpayers £72m, government figures have revealed.
If this figure was substantially higher for a region than for the country as a whole, then the region could be declared a blue zone.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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