figure (ˈfɪɡə
;US English ˈfɪɡjər)
Definitions
noun
- any written symbol other than a letter, esp a whole number
- another name for digit (sense 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 a slim bodily shape (esp in the phrases 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 person as impressed on the mind ⇒
- 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 mood2 (sense 2)
- music
- a numeral written above or below a note in a part See figured bass , thorough bass
- a characteristic short pattern of notes
verb
- tr, often foll by up to calculate or compute (sums, amounts, etc)
- (tr; usually takes a clause as object) informal mainly US Canadian New Zealand 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) 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
- See go figure
Alternative Forms
ˈfigureless adjective ˈfigurer nounWord Origin
C13: from Latin figūra a shape, from fingere to mouldSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
personage,
force,
face,
leader,
person,
individual,
character,
presence,
somebody,
personality,
celebrity,
worthy,
notable,
big name,
dignitary,
notability,
=
feature,
act,
appear,
contribute to be included be mentioned
play a part,
be featured have a place in be conspicuous
Translations
- British English:
figure
A figure is a particular amount expressed as a number, especially a statistic.Government figures show that retail sales fell last month by two per cent.ˈfɪɡə; ˈfɪɡjər NOUN Government figures show that retail sales fell last month by two per cent.
- Spanish:
cifra
nf
- French:
chiffre
nm
- German:
Ziffer
nf
- Chinese: 统计数字 n
- Arabic: رَقْم n
- Portuguese: algarismo nm
- Russian: цифра nf
- Croatian: lik nm
- Czech: číslice nf
- Danish: figur nutr
- Dutch: vorm nm
- Finnish: numero v
- Greek: σχήμα nnt
- Italian: cifra nf
- Japanese: 数字 n
- Korean: 숫자 n
- Norwegian: siffer nnt
- Polish: figura nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: algarismo nm
- European Spanish:
cifra
nf
- Swedish: siffra nutr
- Thai: ตัวเลข n
- Turkish: şekil n
- Vietnamese: con số n
Usage examples
Twisting around, he saw one of the boys silhouetted, grappling with a larger figure.
, LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)James remembered his first week in the cottage and the shadowy figure by the river.
Country Life (2004)The real figure , according to the US Census Bureau, turned out to be 25 per cent less.
Irish Times (2002)A 1993 referendum showed firm support for the superquarry; another poll in May 1995 reversed the figure completely.
Glasgow Herald (2001)However, the symbolic objects associated with the archetypal witch figure still have a relevance in today's Craft.
, A WITCH ALONE (2002)