fig

fig
I. noun Etymology: Middle English fige, from Anglo-French, from Old Occitan figa, from Vulgar Latin *fica, from Latin ficus fig tree, fig Date: 13th century 1. a. an oblong or pear-shaped syconium fruit of a tree (genus Ficus) of the mulberry family b. a tree bearing figs; especially a widely cultivated tree (F. carica) that produces edible figs 2. a worthless trifle ; the least bit <
doesn't care a fig
>
II. noun Etymology: fig, verb, to adorn Date: 1835 dress, array <
a young woman in dazzling royal full fig — Mollie Panter-Downes
>
III. abbreviation figurative; figuratively; figure

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Fig — (f[i^]g), n. [F. figue the fruit of the tree, Pr. figa, fr. L. ficus fig tree, fig. Cf. {Fico}.] 1. (Bot.) A small fruit tree ({Ficus Carica}) with large leaves, known from the remotest antiquity. It was probably native from Syria westward to the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • FIG — (Heb. תְּאֵנָה, te enah), one of the seven species with which Ereẓ Israel was blessed (Deut. 8:8). It is mentioned in the Bible 16 times together with the vine as the most important of the country s fruit. The saying every man under his vine and… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • fig — (n.) early 13c., from O.Fr. figue (12c.), from O.Prov. figa, from V.L. *fica, from L. ficus fig tree, fig, from a pre I.E. Mediterranean language, possibly Semitic (Cf. Phoenician pagh half ripe fig ). A reborrowing of a word that had been taken… …   Etymology dictionary

  • fig — fig1 [fig] n. [ME fige < OFr < VL * fica, for L ficus, fig tree, fig] 1. the hollow, pear shaped false fruit (syconium) of the fig tree, with sweet, pulpy flesh containing numerous tiny, seedlike true fruits (achenes) 2. any of a genus… …   English World dictionary

  • fig — [ fıg ] noun count a soft fruit with purple or green skin and a lot of small seeds inside. It grows on a fig tree. not give a fig about/for something BRITISH INFORMAL OLD FASHIONED to not care at all about something not worth a fig worth nothing …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • fig — Ⅰ. fig [1] ► NOUN ▪ a soft pear shaped fruit with sweet dark flesh and many small seeds. ● not give (or care) a fig Cf. ↑not give a fig ORIGIN Old French figue from Latin ficus. Ⅱ …   English terms dictionary

  • Fig — Fig, v. t. [See {Fico}, {Fig}, n.] 1. To insult with a fico, or contemptuous motion. See {Fico}. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] When Pistol lies, do this, and fig me like The bragging Spaniard. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To put into the head of, as something …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fig — [fıg] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: figue, from Latin ficus] 1.) a soft sweet fruit with a lot of small seeds, often eaten dried, or the tree on which this fruit grows 2.) not give a fig/not care a fig (about/for sth/sb) old fashioned …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • fig — [fıg] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: figue, from Latin ficus] 1.) a soft sweet fruit with a lot of small seeds, often eaten dried, or the tree on which this fruit grows 2.) not give a fig/not care a fig (about/for sth/sb) old fashioned …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Fig — Fig, n. Figure; dress; array. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] Were they all in full fig, the females with feathers on their heads, the males with chapeaux bras? Prof. Wilson. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fig. — fig. UK US noun [C] ► WRITTEN ABBREVIATION for FIGURE(Cf. ↑figure) noun: »The model used in his reflection (see fig. 1, p. 40) captures the act of composing as many of us recognize it …   Financial and business terms

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