fig

¹ American  

[fig] / fɪg /

noun

1. any tree or shrub belonging to the genus Ficus, of the mulberry family, especially a small tree, F. carica, native to southwestern Asia, bearing a turbinate or pear-shaped fruit that is eaten fresh, preserved, or dried.

2. the fruit of such a tree or shrub, or of any related species.

3. any of various plants having a fruit somewhat resembling this.

4. a contemptibly trifling or worthless amount; the least bit.

   His help wasn't worth a fig.

5. a gesture of contempt.

---

fig ² American  

[fig] / fɪg /

noun

1. dress or array.

   to appear at a party in full fig.

2. condition.

   to feel in fine fig.

---

fig. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. figurative.

2. figuratively.

3. figure; figures.

---

fig ¹ British  

/ fɪɡ /

noun

1. any moraceous tree or shrub of the tropical and subtropical genus Ficus , in which the flowers are borne inside a pear-shaped receptacle

2. the fruit of any of these trees, esp of F. carica , which develops from the receptacle and has sweet flesh containing numerous seedlike structures

3. any of various plants or trees having a fruit similar to this

4. a succulent plant, Mesembryanthemum edule , of southern Africa, having a capsular fruit containing edible pulp: family Aizoaceae

5. (used with a negative) something of negligible value; jot

   I don't care a fig for your opinion

6. Also: feg.  dialect a piece or segment from an orange

7. Also called: fico.  an insulting gesture made with the thumb between the first two fingers or under the upper teeth

---

fig ² British  

/ fɪɡ /

verb

1. to dress (up) or rig (out)

2. to administer stimulating drugs to (a horse)

---

noun

1. dress, appearance, or array (esp in the phrase in full fig )

2. physical condition or form

   in bad fig

fig. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. figurative(ly)

2. figure

---

fig Idioms  

1. see under not give a damn.

---

Etymology

Origin of fig¹

1175–1225; Middle English fige < Old French < Old Provençal figa < Vulgar Latin *fīca, for Latin fīcus

Origin of fig²

1685–95; earlier feague to liven, whip up < German fegen to furbish, sweep, clean; akin to fair ¹

Example Sentences

Outside, she grew bell peppers and squash and tended to the avocado and fig trees.

From Los Angeles Times

Go for dried fruit if you want something chewy and concentrated: cranberries, golden or black raisins, figs, apricots, dates.

From Salon

A fig tree adorns the ceiling in the hallway and birds fly up the stairs along the walls.

From BBC

There, chimps climb into the trees to harvest fruits and often prefer several types of figs.

From Science Daily

More than 70 percent of those exports, worth $1.4 billion, are perishable farm goods such as figs, pistachios, grapes and pomegranates.

From Barron's