figure
a numerical symbol, especially an Arabic numeral.
an amount or value expressed in numbers.
figures, the use of numbers in calculating; arithmetic: to be poor at figures.
a written symbol other than a letter.
form or shape, as determined by outlines or exterior surfaces: to be round, square, or cubical in figure.
the bodily form or frame: a slender or graceful figure.
an individual bodily form or a person with reference to form or appearance: A tall figure stood in the doorway.
a character or personage, especially one of distinction: a well-known figure in society.
a person's public image or presence: a controversial political figure.
the appearance or impression made by a person or sometimes a thing: to make quite a figure in financial circles; to present a wretched figure of poverty.
a representation, pictorial or sculptured, especially of the human form: The frieze was bordered with the figures of men and animals.
an instructive or illustrative drawing or diagram, as found in a book or an owner’s manual: To attach the wheels to the base of the cabinet, see figure 4.
an emblem, type, or symbol: The dove is a figure of peace.
Rhetoric. a figure of speech.
a textural pattern, as in cloth or wood: draperies with an embossed silk figure.
a distinct movement or division of a dance.
a movement, pattern, or series of movements in skating.
Music. a short succession of musical notes, as either a melody or a group of chords, that produces a single complete and distinct impression.
Geometry. a combination of geometric elements disposed in a particular form or shape: The circle, square, and polygon are plane figures. The sphere, cube, and polyhedron are solid figures.
Logic. the form of a categorical syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
Optics. the precise curve required on the surface of an optical element, especially the mirror or correcting plate of a reflecting telescope.
the natural pattern on a sawed wood surface produced by the intersection of knots, burls, growth rings, etc.
a phantasm or illusion.
to compute or calculate (often followed by up): to figure up a total.
to express in figures.
to mark or adorn with a design or pattern.
to portray by speech or action.
to represent or express by a figure of speech.
to represent by a pictorial or sculptured figure, a diagram, or the like; picture or depict; trace (an outline, silhouette, etc.).
Informal. to conclude, judge, reason, or think about: I figured that you wanted me to stay.
Music.
to embellish with passing notes or other decorations.
to write figures above or below (a bass part) to indicate accompanying chords.
to compute or work with numerical figures.
to be or appear, especially in a conspicuous or prominent way: His name figures importantly in my report.
Informal. (of a situation, act, request, etc.) to be logical, expected, or reasonable: He quit the job when he didn't get a raise—it figured.
figure in, to add in: Figure in rent and utilities as overhead.
figure on, Informal.
to count or rely on.
to take into consideration; plan on: You had better figure on running into heavy traffic leaving the city.
figure out, Informal.
to understand; solve: We couldn't figure out where all the money had gone.
to calculate; compute.
figure up, Informal. to total: The bill figures up to exactly $1000.
Idioms about figure
cut a figure. cut (defs. 87, 88b).
Origin of figure
1synonym study For figure
Other words for figure
Other words from figure
- fig·ur·a·ble, adjective
- fig·ure·less, adjective
- fig·ur·er, noun
- out·fig·ure, verb (used with object), out·fig·ured, out·fig·ur·ing.
- re·fig·ure, verb (used with object), re·fig·ured, re·fig·ur·ing.
- sub·fig·ure, noun
- un·fig·ur·a·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use figure in a sentence
Figuring how to train Iraqi forces has dogged the United States since the 2003 invasion.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’ | Nancy A. Youssef | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTMy doctor put me on oral contraceptives to induce a period, figuring it would help build bone.
For five weeks I forced myself to sit at my house table, figuring that my reluctance was a residue of my introversion.
“Americans thought then we were at the cutting edge figuring out typhus and yellow fever,” says Bennett.
Ultimately though, “figuring out military needs is somewhat harder than figuring out commercial market wants,” Aboulafia said.
America’s Advanced Stealth Jet Flies on 1990s Tech | Dave Majumdar | October 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
I went up to my chamber when we got back, and sat down beside my little glass lamp and did some figuring.
The Idyl of Twin Fires | Walter Prichard EatonSitting on a stool and figuring discounts is business, and trading cheese-cloth for parrots is business too.
The Belted Seas | Arthur ColtonWe can scarcely regard the persons figuring in the following true story as being very much superior to the King of Dahomey.
Ancient Faiths And Modern | Thomas InmanBy the time Mr. Van Britt got back to the train desk, the boss had his pencil out and was figuring on Bertram's time margin.
The Wreckers | Francis LyndeNot that this city was one of the places figuring in his campaigns, for he was here after and not during the war.
The Letters of Ambrose Bierce | Ambrose Bierce
British Dictionary definitions for figure
/ (ˈfɪɡə, US ˈfɪɡjər) /
any written symbol other than a letter, esp a whole number
another name for digit (def. 2)
an amount expressed numerically: a figure of 1800 was suggested
(plural) calculations with numbers: he's good at figures
visible shape or form; outline
the human form, esp as regards size or shape: a girl with a slender figure
a slim bodily shape (esp in the phrases keep or lose one's figure)
a character or personage, esp a prominent or notable one; personality: a figure in politics
the impression created by a person through behaviour (esp in the phrase to cut a fine, bold, etc, figure)
a person as impressed on the mind: the figure of Napoleon
(in combination): father-figure
a representation in painting or sculpture, esp of the human form
an illustration or explanatory diagram in a text
a representative object or symbol; emblem
a pattern or design, as on fabric or in wood
a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating
geometry any combination of points, lines, curves, or planes. A plane figure, such as a circle, encloses an area; a solid figure such as a sphere, encloses a volume
rhetoric See figure of speech
logic one of the four possible arrangements of the three terms in the premises of a syllogism: Compare mood 2 (def. 2)
music
a numeral written above or below a note in a part: See figured bass, thorough bass
a characteristic short pattern of notes
(when tr, often foll by up) to calculate or compute (sums, amounts, etc)
(tr; usually takes a clause as object) informal, mainly US, Canadian and NZ to think or conclude; consider
(tr) to represent by a diagram or illustration
(tr) to pattern or mark with a design
(tr) to depict or portray in a painting, etc
(tr) rhetoric to express by means of a figure of speech
(tr) to imagine
(tr) music
to decorate (a melody line or part) with ornamentation
to provide figures above or below (a bass part) as an indication of the accompanying harmonies required: See figured bass, thorough bass
(intr usually foll by in) to be included: his name figures in the article
(intr) informal to accord with expectation; be logical: it figures that he wouldn't come
go figure informal an expression of surprise, astonishment, wonder, etc
Origin of figure
1- See also figure on, figure out
Derived forms of figure
- figureless, adjective
- figurer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with figure
In addition to the idioms beginning with figure
- figure in
- figure on
- figure out
- figure up
also see:
- ballpark figure
- in round numbers (figures)
- it figures
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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