figure eight

noun

a figure or form composed of two loops formed by a continuous line crossing itself, as in the figure 8, especially as traced on ice in figure skating.

Nearby words

figurative, figurative language, figuratively, figure, figure and ground, figure eight, figure eight suture, figure in, figure of eight, figure of merit, figure of speech

Origin of figure eight

First recorded in 1595–1605

Also called figure of eight.

Definition for figure eight (2 of 2)

figure of eight

noun

figure eight.

a knot resembling the figure 8.

Origin of figure of eight

First recorded in 1595–1605

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for figure eight

Even Slayer frontman Tom Araya announced in 2010 he was retiring his signature helicopter and figure-eight style thrashing.
Doctors Say Motörhead Is So Hardcore, They Could Make Your Brain Bleed|Brandy Zadrozny|July 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Here's what's left of the hobbles the buckskin wore," he said, holding up the cut loops of a figure-eight rope hobble.
The Heritage of the Sioux|B.M. Bower
Sides, a double overcasting attached in figure-eight fashion to the sides, or a double selvage having from three to five cords.
Oriental Rugs|Walter A. Hawley
Use the figure-eight knot to make a knot on the end of a rope or to prevent the end of the strands from untwisting.
On the Trail|Lina Beard and Adelia Belle Beard

In 1903 the Gordon-Bennett cup race was held in Ireland, over a course of 368 miles, twice around a figure-eight track.
The Automobilist Abroad|M. F. (Milburg Francisco) Mansfield
Baby Fuzzy looked up disinterestedly, and then went back to trying to untie a figure-eight knot he had tied.
Little Fuzzy|Henry Beam Piper

British Dictionary definitions for figure eight

figure of eight

figure eight

noun

an outline of the number 8 traced on ice by a skater

a flight manoeuvre by an aircraft outlining a figure 8

a knot in the shape of a figure 8 made to prevent the unreeving of a rope
a climber's knot in the shape of a figure 8 made with a doubled rope to provide a secure loop
an angler's knot sometimes used to attach a fly to a leader or dropper

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

figure eight

noun

RELATED CONTENT

Nearby words

Origin of figure eight

Definition for figure eight (2 of 2)

figure of eight

noun

Origin of figure of eight

Examples from the Web for figure eight

British Dictionary definitions for figure eight

figure of eight

figure eight

noun