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figure definition

fig·ure (fig′yər, -yo̵or; often, esp. for v., & Brit always, fig′ər)

noun

  1. the outline or shape of something; form
  2. the shape of the human body; human form
  3. a person, esp. one seen or thought of in a specified way a great social figure
  4. a likeness or representation of a person or thing
  5. an illustration; diagram; picture; drawing
  6. an artistic design in fabrics, etc.; pattern
    1. the symbol for a number the figure 5
    2. calculation with such symbols; arithmetic very good at figures
  8. a sum of money
  9. Dancing, Skating a series or pattern of steps or movements
  10. Geom. a surface or space bounded on all sides by lines or planes
  11. Logic the form of a syllogism with reference to the use of the middle term as variously the subject or the predicate of the premises
  12. Music a series of consecutive tones or chords forming a distinct group which with other similar groups completes a phrase or theme; motif
  13. Rhetoric figure of speech

Etymology: ME < OFr < L figura < fingere, to form, shape: see dough

transitive verb figured -·ured, figuring -·ur·ing

  1. to represent in definite form; give a shape to
  2. to represent mentally; imagine
  3. to ornament with a design
  4. to compute with figures
  5. Informal to believe; consider; decide
  6. Music to indicate chords for (the bass) by writing the appropriate figures next to the notes

Etymology: ME figuren < the n.

intransitive verb

    1. to appear, often prominently: with in you figure in all my dreams
    2. to be a causal factor: with in poor food figured in his ill health
  2. to do arithmetic
  3. ☆ Informal to consider; calculate
  4. ☆ Informal to be just as expected or as anticipated

Related Forms:

figure Idioms

figure in

☆ to add in; include

figure on

☆
  1. to count on; rely on
  2. to consider as part of a scheme or project; plan on

figure out

☆
  1. to solve; compute
  2. to understand; reason out

figure up

☆
to add; total

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms figure idiom

medical figure definition - medical

figure Synonyms

figure

n.

  1. A form

    shape, mass, structure; see form 1.

  2. The human torso

    body, frame, torso, shape, form, development, configuration, build, physique, appearance, outline, posture, attitude, pose, carriage, chassis*, bod*. *

  3. An arrangement of lines, masses, and the like

    illustration, sketch, composition, pattern; see design 1, picture 3, statue.

  4. A representation of quantity

    numeral, sum, total, symbol; see number 2, symbol.

  5. Price

    value, amount, sum, terms; see price.

  6. A person

    character, personage, personality; see person 1, personage 2. See syn. study at form.


figure

v.

  1. To compute

    calculate, reckon, number, count; see calculate 1.

  2. To estimate

    set a figure, appraise, guess, fix a price; see estimate 1.

  3. *To come to a conclusion

    conclude, suppose, think, opine; see decide, estimate 2, infer 1.

  4. To figure out

    comprehend, master, reason out; see solve, understand 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

figure Usage Examples

Preposition: in

  • foreground: There is a ruminating figure in the foreground surrounded by a sea of faces.

Converse of object

  • publish: Figures published by Halifax imply that the upward trend is not yet over.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • out: First, you want to figure out where you are going to get your car finance.

Adjective modifier

  • leading: George Galloway is the leading figure in Respect - he also heads our London list for the EU elections.

Noun used with modifier

  • attendance: Episode 6 ( 14 FEB 91 ) " Assassin " Attendance figures for the Leisure Center are far too low.
figure usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

figure quotes

For an actress to be a success she must have the face of Venus, the brains of Minerva, the grace of Terpsichore, thememoryof Macaulay, thefigure of Juno, and thehide of a rhinoceros.

-Barrymore, Ethel

Man is a singular creature. He has a set of gifts which makehimuniqueamong theanimals, sothat unlikethem he is not a figure in the landscapeöhe is the shaper of the landscape.

-Bronowski,Jacob

At fifty you havethe choice of keeping your face or your figure and it's much better to keep your face.

-Cartland, Dame (Mary) Barbara Hamilton

figure quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"figure." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/figure>

APA Style

figure. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/figure

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