figure of eight

noun

1. figure eight.

2. a knot resembling the figure 8.

figure of eight

noun

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

2. a flight manoeuvre by an aircraft outlining a figure 8

3. 1. a knot in the shape of a figure 8 made to prevent the unreeving of a rope

   2. a climber's knot in the shape of a figure 8 made with a doubled rope to provide a secure loop

   3. an angler's knot sometimes used to attach a fly to a leader or dropper

Word History and Origins

Origin of figure of eight¹

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

It is not huge but that figure of eight, the FA believes, is a record.

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The malleable green wood would then tighten as it dried, giving the shield its strength and forming the rounded rectangles into a slightly “waisted” shape, like a subtle figure of eight.

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This is the only figure of eight track on the circuit, as I’m sure you all well know.

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He has been in fine form all weekend, expressing how much he was enjoying driving the unique challenge of the figure of eight track in the Mie prefecture.

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The Ilyushin takes off from the Russian base at Hmeimim and flies eastwards and then north, before flying southwards and then west - essentially a figure of eight.

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