'figure of speech' definitions:

Definition of 'figure of speech'

From: WordNet
noun
Language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense [syn: trope, figure of speech, figure, image]

Definition of 'figure of speech'

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]

Synonyms of 'figure of speech'

From: Moby Thesaurus