figure
- figure
-
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin figura, from fingere
Date: 13th century
1.
a. a number symbol ; numeral, digit
b. plural arithmetical calculations <
good at figures
>
c. a written or printed character
d. value especially as expressed in numbers ; sum, price <sold at a low figure
>
e. plural digits representing an amount (as of money earned or points scored) <made six figures last year
> <a score in double figures
>
2.
a. a geometric form (as a line, triangle, or sphere) especially when considered as a set of geometric elements (as points) in space of a given number of dimensions <a square is a plane figure
>
b. bodily shape or form especially of a person <a slender figure
>
c. an object noticeable only as a shape or form <figures moving in the dusk
>
3.
a. the graphic representation of a form especially of a person or geometric entity
b. a diagram or pictorial illustration of textual matter
4. a person, thing, or action representative of another
5.
a. figure of speech
b. an intentional deviation from the ordinary form or syntactical relation of words
6. the form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term
7. an often repetitive pattern or design in a manufactured article (as cloth) or natural product (as wood) <a polka-dot figure
>
8. appearance made ; impression produced <the couple cut quite a figure
>
9.
a. a series of movements in a dance
b. an outline representation of a form traced by a series of evolutions (as with skates on an ice surface or by an airplane in the air)
10. a prominent personality ; personage <great figures of history
>
11. a short coherent group of notes or chords that may constitute part of a phrase, theme, or composition
II. verb
(figured; figuring)
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. to represent by or as if by a figure or outline
2. to decorate with a pattern; also to write figures over or under (the bass) in order to indicate the accompanying chords
3. to indicate or represent by numerals
4.
a. calculate
b. conclude, decide <figured there was no use in further effort
>; also assume <figure it will rain
>
c. regard, consider
d. to appear likely <figures to win
>
intransitive verb
1.
a. to be or appear important or conspicuous
b. to be involved or implicated <figured in a robbery
>
2. to perform a figure in dancing
3. compute, calculate
4. to seem rational, normal, or expected <that figures
>
5. to make sense of something — used interjectionally in the phrase go figure to suggest that something is surprising or perplexing <why do they think women will buy this lie? Go figure — Ellen Bravo
>
• figurer noun
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
figure — [ figyr ] n. f. • Xe; lat. figura « forme » I ♦ 1 ♦ Vx Forme extérieure d un corps. ⇒ aspect. Des outils « dont il ne connaît ni l usage, ni le nom, ni la figure » (La Bruyère). ♢ Mod. N avoir plus figure humaine : être si mal en point que la… … Encyclopédie Universelle
figuré — figure [ figyr ] n. f. • Xe; lat. figura « forme » I ♦ 1 ♦ Vx Forme extérieure d un corps. ⇒ aspect. Des outils « dont il ne connaît ni l usage, ni le nom, ni la figure » (La Bruyère). ♢ Mod. N avoir plus figure humaine : être si mal … Encyclopédie Universelle
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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
figure — FIGURE. s. f. La forme exterieure d une chose materielle. La figure du corps humain. cet animal, ce poisson est d une estrange figure, voilà une plante d une figure bien bizarre. une estrange figure d homme. une plaisante figure, une sotte figure … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
Figure 8 — might refer to: *Figure 8, an expression describing a Lissajous curve that resembles the number 8 *Figure 8, a circle that turns around upon itself, on its side is a symbol for infinity *Figure eight knot, (also called a Flemish Knot), is a type… … Wikipedia
figuré — figuré, ée (fi gu ré, rée) part. passé. 1° Qui est fait selon une certaine figure. Terme d anatomie. Élément anatomique figuré, se dit par opposition à éléments anatomiques amorphes ou matières amorphes. Plan figuré d une maison, d une… … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
Figure — may refer to:*A shape, drawing, or representation *Figure 8 *A person s figure *Miniature representation of something **Action figure, in arts *a number *a type of person, as in Christ figureWriting *a figure in writing is a type of floating… … Wikipedia
figure — n 1 *number, numeral, digit, integer Analogous words: symbol, *character 2 *form, shape, configuration, conformation Analogous words: *outline, contour, profile, silhouette: *character, symbol, sign, mark … New Dictionary of Synonyms
figure — [fig′yər, figyoor; ] often, esp. for v., & Brit always [, fig′ər] n. [ME < OFr < L figura < fingere, to form, shape: see DOUGH] 1. the outline or shape of something; form 2. the shape of the human body; human form 3. a person, esp. one… … English World dictionary
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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Figure 8 — Album par Elliott Smith Sortie 18 avril 2000 Durée 52:06 Genre Rock indépendant Producteur Elliott Smith Tom Rothrock Rob Schnapf … Wikipédia en Français
