figure

plural figures

1. A drawing or diagram conveying information.

   1 more example

   For example, while Figure 1 shows information for 516 visitor groups, Figure 3 presents data for 1,625 individuals. A note above each graph or table specifies the information illustrated. ... For example, although Joshua Tree NP visitors returned 525 questionnaires, Figure 1 shows data for only 516 respondents.

   2004, Joshua Tree National Park 2004 Visitor Study

2. The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body.

   a figure in bronze; a figure cut in marble

   2 more examples

   a coin that bears the figure of an angel

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii]

   Ever since I was a young’n and my dad gave me a Godzilla figure, I’ve been a huge fan of the big green lizard from the Land of the Rising Sun.

   2007 December 28, Andy Salisbury, “Unleash the Beast”, in Nintendo Power, volume 222, page 34

3. A person, thing, or action representative of another

   Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, leading to the public humiliation of symbolic figures.

   2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21

4. The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person.

   He cut a sorry figure standing there in the rain.

   2 more examples

   I made some figure there.

   1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   gentlemen of the best figure in the county

   1765–1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, (please specify |book=I to IV), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC

5. obsoleteDistinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendour; show.

   that he may live in figure and indulgence

   1729, William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life

6. A human figure, which dress or corset must fit to; the shape of a human body.

   She was cunningly dressed in a black, sheer gown with gold ornaments showing her figure to perfection.

   1966, James Workman, The Mad Emperor, Melbourne, Sydney: Scripts, page 53

   1 more example

   The origin of the corset is lost in remote antiquity. The figures of the early Egyptian women show clearly an artificial shape of the waist produced by some style of corset.

   1919, B. G. Jefferis, J. L. Nichols, Searchlights on Health

7. A numeral.
8. A number, an amount.

   (i) in the 1966 edition of The Destruction of Dresden Irving contended that 135,000 were estimated authoritatively to have been killed and further contended that the documentation suggested a figure between 100,00 and 250,000;

   1996, David Irving v. Penguin Books and Deborah Lipstadt

9. A shape.

   a geometrical figure, a plane figure, a solid figure

   3 more examples

   Flowers have all exquisite figures.

   1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC

   And these were not human shapes, or the shapes of anything I recognised as alive in the world, but outlines of fire that traced globes, triangles, crosses, and the luminous bodies of various geometrical figures.

   1908, Algernon Blackwood, John Silence, Physician Extraordinary

   The arc of a circle may be very little, but, given that, it is possible to construct the entire figure.

   1914, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados

10. A visible pattern as in wood or cloth.

    The muslin was of a pretty figure.

11. Any complex dance moveᵂ.

    Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness,[…]. It was with a palpable relief that he heard the first warning notes of the figure.

    1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

12. A figure of speech.

    to represent the imagination under the figure of a wing

    1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XX, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

13. human sciencesThe form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
14. astrologyA horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.

    its quality, like those of all the rest, is determined by its position in the house of the astrological figure

    1889, Franz Hartmann, The Principles of Astrological Geomancy

15. entertainmentAny short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.

    Here, Beethoven limits the syncopations and modifications of rhythm which are so prominent in the first and third movements, and employs a rapid, busy, and most melodious figure in the Violins, which is irresistible in its gay and brilliant effect[…]

    1888, George Grove, Beethoven's Nine Symphonies: Analytical Essays

16. entertainmentA form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a motif; a florid embellishment.

present singular third person figures · participle present figuring · participle past figured · past figured

1. USTo calculate, to solve a mathematical problem.
2. USTo come to understand.

   I can’t figure if he’s telling the truth or lying.

3. To think, to assume, to suppose, to reckon.

   We can figure on running a loss this year.

   2 more examples

   1. Gent. Thou art alwayes figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error, I am sound.

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

   “I know you figure me for a leftneck fool, correct?”

   2023, John B. Wright, Fire Scars

4. USintransitiveTo be reasonable or predictable.

   It figures that somebody like him would be upset about the situation.

   Synonyms: check out, track, make sense, add up

5. intransitiveTo enter into; to be a part of.

   The exchange rate figures heavily in several other aspects of Venezuela's economy.

   2005, Paul Beckerman, Andean Exchange-rate Regimes, 1994-2003

   1 more example

   It is the transcontinental trains which figure most prominently in railway advertising. Both railways run two trains in each direction.

   1959 November, J. N. Westwood, “The Railways of Canada”, in Trains Illustrated, page 554

6. transitiveTo represent in a picture or drawing.

   Although now to be met with in botanic gardens everywhere, there is a certain degree of interest attaching to the figure of it in B.M. 3,992 (1843), although that was by no means the first figure published, for Lambert, Sprengel, and Sir W. Hooker had previously figured it.

   1884 August 16, X. Y. Z., “Brazilian or Maté Tea”, in The Gardeners’ Magazine, volume 27 (New Series), number 1,007, page 451

7. obsoleteTo represent by a figure, as to form or mould; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape.

   If love, alas! be pain; the pain I bear, / No thought can figure, and no tongue declare.

   1709, Matthew Prior, “Henry and Emma. […]”, in The Poetical Works of Matthew Prior […], volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan, […], published 1779, →OCLC, page 245

8. To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.

   The vaulty top of heaven / Figured quite o'er with burning meteors.

   c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

9. obsoleteTo indicate by numerals.

   1698 , John Dryden, Epitaph of Mary Frampton As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen.

10. To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.

    whose white vestments figure innocence

    c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

11. obsoleteTo prefigure; to foreshow.

    In this the heaven figures some event.

    c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

    1 more example

    His loftie browes in foldes, do figure death, And in their ſmoothneſſe, amitie and life:

    c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene i

12. entertainmentTo write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords.
13. entertainmentTo embellish.