figure of eight

American  

noun

1. figure eight.

2. a knot resembling the figure 8.

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figure of eight British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of figure of eight

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

The TLI placed Apollo on a "free-return trajectory" - often illustrated as a figure of eight shape.

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2019

A pattern for the three women, hopping around one another in a figure of eight, already shows Mr. Taylor’s felicity of design.

From New York Times • Dec. 18, 2016

Do you think we could do a figure of eight together?

From Hildegarde's Harvest by Richards, Laura Elizabeth Howe

When in high spirits they run round in circles or in a figure of eight, with their tails between their legs.

From Dogs and All about Them by Leighton, Robert

Octagon, ok′ta-gon, n. a plane figure of eight sides and eight angles.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various