'Figure' definitions:

Definition of 'figure'

From: WordNet
noun
A diagram or picture illustrating textual material; "the area covered can be seen from Figure 2" [syn: figure, fig]
noun
Alternative names for the body of a human being; "Leonardo studied the human body"; "he has a strong physique"; "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" [syn: human body, physical body, material body, soma, build, figure, physique, anatomy, shape, bod, chassis, frame, form, flesh]
noun
One of the elements that collectively form a system of numeration; "0 and 1 are digits" [syn: digit, figure]
noun
A model of a bodily form (especially of a person); "he made a figure of Santa Claus"
noun
A well-known or notable person; "they studied all the great names in the history of France"; "she is an important figure in modern music" [syn: name, figure, public figure]
noun
A combination of points and lines and planes that form a visible palpable shape
noun
An amount of money expressed numerically; "a figure of $17 was suggested"
noun
The impression produced by a person; "he cut a fine figure"; "a heroic figure"
noun
The property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals; "he had a number of chores to do"; "the number of parameters is small"; "the figure was about a thousand" [syn: number, figure]
noun
Language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense [syn: trope, figure of speech, figure, image]
noun
A unitary percept having structure and coherence that is the object of attention and that stands out against a ground [ant: ground]
noun
A decorative or artistic work; "the coach had a design on the doors" [syn: design, pattern, figure]
noun
A predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating; "she made the best score on compulsory figures"
verb
Judge to be probable [syn: calculate, estimate, reckon, count on, figure, forecast]
verb
Be or play a part of or in; "Elections figure prominently in every government program"; "How do the elections figure in the current pattern of internal politics?" [syn: figure, enter]
verb
Imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind; "I can't see him on horseback!"; "I can see what will happen"; "I can see a risk in this strategy" [syn: visualize, visualise, envision, project, fancy, see, figure, picture, image]
verb
Make a mathematical calculation or computation [syn: calculate, cipher, cypher, compute, work out, reckon, figure]
verb
Understand; "He didn't figure her"

Definition of 'Figure'

From: GCIDE
  • Figure \Fig"ure\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Figured; p. pr. & vb. n. Figuring.] [F. figurer, L. figurare, fr. figura. See Figure, n.]
  • 1. To represent by a figure, as to form or mold; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape. [1913 Webster]
  • If love, alas! be pain I bear, [1913 Webster]
  • No thought can figure, and no tongue declare.Prior. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To embellish with design; to adorn with figures. [1913 Webster]
  • The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with burning meteors. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To indicate by numerals; also, to compute. [1913 Webster]
  • As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize. [1913 Webster]
  • Whose white vestments figure innocence. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To prefigure; to foreshow. [1913 Webster]
  • In this the heaven figures some event. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Mus.) (a) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. (b) To embellish. [1913 Webster]
  • To figure out, to solve; to compute or find the result of.
  • To figure up, to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Figure'

From: GCIDE
  • Figure \Fig"ure\, v. i.
  • 1. To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as, the envoy figured at court. [1913 Webster]
  • Sociable, hospitable, eloquent, admired, figuring away brilliantly. --M. Arnold. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To calculate; to contrive; to scheme; as, he is figuring to secure the nomination. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]
  • go figure a phrase used by itself as an interjection to mean "How can one explain that?", or to express puzzlement over some seeming contradiction. [Colloq.] [PJC]

Definition of 'Figure'

From: GCIDE
  • Figure \Fig"ure\ (f[i^]g"[-u]r; 135), n. [F., figure, L. figura; akin to fingere to form, shape, feign. See Feign.]
  • 1. The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance. [1913 Webster]
  • Flowers have all exquisite figures. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modeling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body; as, a figure in bronze; a figure cut in marble. [1913 Webster]
  • A coin that bears the figure of an angel. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A pattern in cloth, paper, or other manufactured article; a design wrought out in a fabric; as, the muslin was of a pretty figure. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Geom.) A diagram or drawing, made to represent a magnitude or the relation of two or more magnitudes; a surface or space inclosed on all sides; -- called superficial when inclosed by lines, and solid when inclosed by surfaces; any arrangement made up of points, lines, angles, surfaces, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person; as, a sorry figure. [1913 Webster]
  • I made some figure there. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • Gentlemen of the best figure in the county. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendor; show. [1913 Webster]
  • That he may live in figure and indulgence. --Law. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. A character or symbol representing a number; a numeral; a digit; as, 1, 2,3, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. Value, as expressed in numbers; price; as, the goods are estimated or sold at a low figure. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]
  • With nineteen thousand a year at the very lowest figure. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. A person, thing, or action, conceived of as analogous to another person, thing, or action, of which it thus becomes a type or representative. [1913 Webster]
  • Who is the figure of Him that was to come. --Rom. v. 14. [1913 Webster]
  • 10. (Rhet.) A mode of expressing abstract or immaterial ideas by words which suggest pictures or images from the physical world; pictorial language; a trope; hence, any deviation from the plainest form of statement. Also called a figure of speech. [1913 Webster]
  • To represent the imagination under the figure of a wing. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • 11. (Logic) The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term. [1913 Webster]
  • 12. (Dancing) Any one of the several regular steps or movements made by a dancer. [1913 Webster]
  • 13. (Astrol.) A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
  • 14. (Music) (a) Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression. --Grove. (b) A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a musical phrase or motive; a florid embellishment. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Figures are often written upon the staff in music to denote the kind of measure. They are usually in the form of a fraction, the upper figure showing how many notes of the kind indicated by the lower are contained in one measure or bar. Thus, 2/4 signifies that the measure contains two quarter notes. The following are the principal figures used for this purpose: -- 2/22/42/8 4/22/44/8 3/23/43/8 6/46/46/8 [1913 Webster]
  • Academy figure, Canceled figures, Lay figure, etc. See under Academy, Cancel, Lay, etc.
  • Figure caster, or Figure flinger, an astrologer. "This figure caster." --Milton.
  • Figure flinging, the practice of astrology.
  • Figure-of-eight knot, a knot shaped like the figure 8. See Illust. under Knot.
  • Figure painting, a picture of the human figure, or the act or art of depicting the human figure.
  • Figure stone (Min.), agalmatolite.
  • Figure weaving, the art or process of weaving figured fabrics.
  • To cut a figure, to make a display. [Colloq.] --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Figure'