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View synonyms for fig

fig

1

[ fig ]

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

[ fig ]

noun

  1. dress or array:

    to appear at a party in full fig.

  2. condition:

    to feel in fine fig.

fig.

3

abbreviation for

  1. figurative.
  2. figuratively.
  3. figure; figures.

fig

1

/ fɪɡ /

verb

  1. foll byout or up to dress (up) or rig (out)
  2. to administer stimulating drugs to (a horse)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. dress, appearance, or array (esp in the phrase in full fig )
  2. physical condition or form

    in bad fig

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fig.

2

abbreviation for

  1. figurative(ly)
  2. figure
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fig

3

/ 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. Hottentot fig or sour fig
    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. dialect.
    Alsofeg a piece or segment from an orange
  7. Also calledfico an insulting gesture made with the thumb between the first two fingers or under the upper teeth
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of fig1

C17 feague , of uncertain origin

Origin of fig2

C13: from Old French figue , from Old Provençal figa , from Latin fīcus fig tree
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Idioms and Phrases

see under not give a damn .
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Example Sentences

Or is Rand co-opting them by merely using his newfound adviser as a fig leaf?

To say that a consignment is “in compliance” with packing regulations is a mere fig leaf.

Finally in 2003, the absurdity of the explosive numbers forced MLB to institute a fig leaf of testing.

This fig leaf of legality must be stripped away, otherwise violence will persist.

Powers never found the house he was looking for, because he never cared a fig for how he might pay for it.

Frequently they are found in alveolar arrangement, retaining the original outline of the alveoli of the lung (Fig. 4, b).

Each is surrounded by a gelatinous capsule, which is its distinctive feature (Fig. 9).

The specific gravity is most conveniently estimated by means of the urinometer—Squibb's is preferable (Fig. 14).

Crystals of urea nitrate or oxalate (Fig. 19) will soon appear and can be recognized with the microscope.

Hydrogen sulphid is easily prepared in the simple apparatus shown in Fig. 30.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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