noun
- the outline or shape of something; form
- the shape of the human body; human form
- a person, esp. one seen or thought of in a specified way: a great social figure
- a likeness or representation of a person or thing
- an illustration; diagram; picture; drawing
- an artistic design in fabrics, etc.; pattern
- the symbol for a number: the figure 5
- calculation with such symbols; arithmetic: very good at figures
- a sum of money
- Dancing, Skating a series or pattern of steps or movements
- Geom. a surface or space bounded on all sides by lines or planes
- 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
- Music a series of consecutive tones or chords forming a distinct group which with other similar groups completes a phrase or theme; motif
- Rhetoric figure of speech
Origin:
ME < OFr < L figura < fingere, to form, shape: see dough
transitive verb figured, figuring
- to represent in definite form; give a shape to
- to represent mentally; imagine
- to ornament with a design
- to compute with figures
- Informal to believe; consider; decide
- Music to indicate chords for (the bass) by writing the appropriate figures next to the notes
Origin:
ME figuren < the n.