figure — English Dictionary

figure
Pronunciations (8)
  • /ˈfɪɡə/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Received-Pronunciation
  • /ˈfɪɡɚ/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Canada
    • US
  • /ˈfɪɡjɚ/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Canada
    • US
  • /ˈfɪɡəɾ/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Scotland
  • /ˈfɪɡəɹ/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Ireland
  • ˈfɪɡjɚ
    Pronunciation notes
    • US
  • ˈfɪɡə
    Pronunciation notes
    • GB
  • ˈfɪɡɚ
    Pronunciation notes
    • CA

Noun

  1. A drawing or diagram conveying information.

    Examples
    More examples (1)

    For example, while Figure 1 shows information for 516 visitor groups, Figure 3 presents data for 1,625 individuals. A note above each graph or table specifies the information illustrated. ... For example, although Joshua Tree NP visitors returned 525 questionnaires, Figure 1 shows data for only 516 respondents.

  2. The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body.

    Examples

    a figure in bronze; a figure cut in marble

    a coin that bears the figure of an angel

    More examples (1)

    Ever since I was a young’n and my dad gave me a Godzilla figure, I’ve been a huge fan of the big green lizard from the Land of the Rising Sun.

  3. A person, thing, or action representative of another

    Examples
    More examples (1)

    Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, leading to the public humiliation of symbolic figures.

  4. The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person.

    Examples

    He cut a sorry figure standing there in the rain.

    I made some figure there.

    More examples (1)

    gentlemen of the best figure in the county

  5. Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendour; show.

    Usage
    • Obsolete
    Examples

    that he may live in figure and indulgence

  6. A human figure, which dress or corset must fit to; the shape of a human body.

    Examples
    More examples (1)

    The origin of the corset is lost in remote antiquity. The figures of the early Egyptian women show clearly an artificial shape of the waist produced by some style of corset.

    She was cunningly dressed in a black, sheer gown with gold ornaments showing her figure to perfection.

  7. A numeral.

  8. A number, an amount.

    Examples
    More examples (1)

    (i) in the 1966 edition of The Destruction of Dresden Irving contended that 135,000 were estimated authoritatively to have been killed and further contended that the documentation suggested a figure between 100,00 and 250,000;

  9. A shape.

    Examples

    a geometrical figure, a plane figure, a solid figure

    Flowers have all exquisite figures.

    More examples (2)

    And these were not human shapes, or the shapes of anything I recognised as alive in the world, but outlines of fire that traced globes, triangles, crosses, and the luminous bodies of various geometrical figures.

    The arc of a circle may be very little, but, given that, it is possible to construct the entire figure.

  10. A visible pattern as in wood or cloth.

    Examples

    The muslin was of a pretty figure.

  11. Any complex dance moveᵂ.

    Examples
    More examples (1)

    Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness,[…]. It was with a palpable relief that he heard the first warning notes of the figure.

  12. A figure of speech.

    Examples

    to represent the imagination under the figure of a wing

  13. The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.

  14. A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.

    Examples

    its quality, like those of all the rest, is determined by its position in the house of the astrological figure

  15. Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.

    Examples
    More examples (1)

    Here, Beethoven limits the syncopations and modifications of rhythm which are so prominent in the first and third movements, and employs a rapid, busy, and most melodious figure in the Violins, which is irresistible in its gay and brilliant effect[…]

  16. A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a motif; a florid embellishment.

Verb

  1. To calculate, to solve a mathematical problem.

    Usage
    • US usage
  2. To come to understand.

    Usage
    • US usage
    Examples

    I can’t figure if he’s telling the truth or lying.

  3. To think, to assume, to suppose, to reckon.

    Examples

    We can figure on running a loss this year.

    1. Gent. Thou art alwayes figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error, I am sound.

    More examples (1)

    “I know you figure me for a leftneck fool, correct?”

  4. To be reasonable or predictable.

    Usage
    • US usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    It figures that somebody like him would be upset about the situation.

  5. To enter into; to be a part of.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    It is the transcontinental trains which figure most prominently in railway advertising. Both railways run two trains in each direction.

    The exchange rate figures heavily in several other aspects of Venezuela's economy.

  6. To represent in a picture or drawing.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    Although now to be met with in botanic gardens everywhere, there is a certain degree of interest attaching to the figure of it in B.M. 3,992 (1843), although that was by no means the first figure published, for Lambert, Sprengel, and Sir W. Hooker had previously figured it.

  7. To represent by a figure, as to form or mould; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape.

    Usage
    • Obsolete
    Examples

    If love, alas! be pain; the pain I bear, / No thought can figure, and no tongue declare.

  8. To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.

    Examples

    The vaulty top of heaven / Figured quite o'er with burning meteors.

  9. To indicate by numerals.

    Usage
    • Obsolete
    Examples

    1698 , John Dryden, Epitaph of Mary Frampton As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen.

  10. To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.

    Examples

    whose white vestments figure innocence

  11. To prefigure; to foreshow.

    Usage
    • Obsolete
    Examples

    His loftie browes in foldes, do figure death, And in their ſmoothneſſe, amitie and life:

    In this the heaven figures some event.

  12. To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords.

  13. To embellish.

Noun

  1. a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    the area covered can be seen from Figure 2

  2. alternative names for the body of a human being

    Examples

    Leonardo studied the human body

    he has a strong physique

    More examples (1)

    the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

  3. one of the elements that collectively form a system of numeration

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    0 and 1 are digits

  4. a model of a bodily form (especially of a person)

    Broader terms
    Examples

    he made a figure of Santa Claus

  5. a well-known or notable person

    Examples

    they studied all the great names in the history of France

    she is an important figure in modern music

  6. a combination of points and lines and planes that form a visible palpable shape

    Broader terms
  7. an amount of money expressed numerically

    Examples

    a figure of $17 was suggested

  8. the impression produced by a person

    Broader terms
    Examples

    he cut a fine figure

    a heroic figure

  9. the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    the number of parameters is small

    the figure was about a thousand

  10. language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense

    Broader terms
  11. a unitary percept having structure and coherence that is the object of attention and that stands out against a ground

    Antonyms
  12. a decorative or artistic work

    Examples

    the coach had a design on the doors

  13. a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating

    Examples

    she made the best score on compulsory figures

Verb

  1. judge to be probable

  2. be or play a part of or in

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    Elections figure prominently in every government program

    How do the elections figure in the current pattern of internal politics?

  3. imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind

    Examples

    I can't see him on horseback!

    I can see what will happen

    More examples (1)

    I can see a risk in this strategy

  4. make a mathematical calculation or computation

    Broader terms
  5. understand

    Examples

    He didn't figure her

Word forms
figuresfiguresfiguringfiguredfigured

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