figure

[ fig-yer; especially British fig-er ]

noun

1. a numerical symbol, especially an Arabic numeral.

   Synonyms: number

2. an amount or value expressed in numbers.

   Synonyms: price, total, sum

3. figures, the use of numbers in calculating; arithmetic:

   to be poor at figures.

4. a written symbol other than a letter.
5. form or shape, as determined by outlines or exterior surfaces:

   to be round, square, or cubical in figure.

6. the bodily form or frame:

   a slender or graceful figure.

7. an individual bodily form or a person with reference to form or appearance:

   A tall figure stood in the doorway.

8. a character or personage, especially one of distinction:

   a well-known figure in society.

   Synonyms: personality

9. a person's public image or presence:

   a controversial political figure.

10. the appearance or impression made by a person or sometimes a thing:

    to make quite a figure in financial circles; to present a wretched figure of poverty.

11. a representation, pictorial or sculptured, especially of the human form:

    The frieze was bordered with the figures of men and animals.

12. an instructive or illustrative drawing or diagram, as found in a book or an owner’s manual:

    To attach the wheels to the base of the cabinet, see figure 4.

13. an emblem, type, or symbol:

    The dove is a figure of peace.

14. Rhetoric. a figure of speech.
15. a textural pattern, as in cloth or wood:

    draperies with an embossed silk figure.

16. a distinct movement or division of a dance.
17. a movement, pattern, or series of movements in skating.
18. Music. a short succession of musical notes, as either a melody or a group of chords, that produces a single complete and distinct impression.
19. Geometry. a combination of geometric elements disposed in a particular form or shape:

    The circle, square, and polygon are plane figures. The sphere, cube, and polyhedron are solid figures.

20. Logic. the form of a categorical syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
21. Optics. the precise curve required on the surface of an optical element, especially the mirror or correcting plate of a reflecting telescope.
22. the natural pattern on a sawed wood surface produced by the intersection of knots, burls, growth rings, etc.
23. a phantasm or illusion.

verb (used with object)

, fig·ured, fig·ur·ing.

1. to compute or calculate (often followed by up ):

   to figure up a total.

   Synonyms: reckon

2. to express in figures.
3. to mark or adorn with a design or pattern.
4. to portray by speech or action.
5. to represent or express by a figure of speech.
6. to represent by a pictorial or sculptured figure, a diagram, or the like; picture or depict; trace (an outline, silhouette, etc.).
7. Informal. to conclude, judge, reason, or think about:

   I figured that you wanted me to stay.

8. Music.
   1. to embellish with passing notes or other decorations.
   2. to write figures above or below (a bass part) to indicate accompanying chords.

verb (used without object)

, fig·ured, fig·ur·ing.

1. to compute or work with numerical figures.
2. to be or appear, especially in a conspicuous or prominent way:

   His name figures importantly in my report.

3. Informal. (of a situation, act, request, etc.) to be logical, expected, or reasonable:

   He quit the job when he didn't get a raise—it figured.

verb phrase

1. Informal.
   1. to count or rely on.
   2. to take into consideration; plan on:

      You had better figure on running into heavy traffic leaving the city.

2. Informal. to total:

   The bill figures up to exactly $1000.

3. Informal.
   1. to understand; solve:

      We couldn't figure out where all the money had gone.

   2. to calculate; compute.
4. to add in:

   Figure in rent and utilities as overhead.

figure

/ ˈfɪɡjər; ˈfɪɡə /

noun

1. any written symbol other than a letter, esp a whole number
2. See digit
   another name for digit
3. an amount expressed numerically

   a figure of 1800 was suggested

4. plural calculations with numbers

   he's good at figures

5. visible shape or form; outline
6. the human form, esp as regards size or shape

   a girl with a slender figure

7. a slim bodily shape (esp in the phrases keep or lose one's figure )
8. a character or personage, esp a prominent or notable one; personality

   a figure in politics

9. the impression created by a person through behaviour (esp in the phrase to cut a fine, bold, etc, figure )
10. 1. a person as impressed on the mind

       the figure of Napoleon

    2. ( in combination )

       father-figure

11. a representation in painting or sculpture, esp of the human form
12. an illustration or explanatory diagram in a text
13. a representative object or symbol; emblem
14. a pattern or design, as on fabric or in wood
15. a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating
16. geometry any combination of points, lines, curves, or planes. A plane figure , such as a circle, encloses an area; a solid figure such as a sphere, encloses a volume
17. See figure of speech
    rhetoric See figure of speech
18. See mood
    logic one of the four possible arrangements of the three terms in the premises of a syllogism Compare mood 2
19. music
    1. a numeral written above or below a note in a part See figured bass thorough bass
    2. a characteristic short pattern of notes

verb

1. whentr, often foll by up to calculate or compute (sums, amounts, etc)
2. informal.
   tr; usually takes a clause as object to think or conclude; consider
3. tr to represent by a diagram or illustration
4. tr to pattern or mark with a design
5. tr to depict or portray in a painting, etc
6. tr rhetoric to express by means of a figure of speech
7. tr to imagine
8. tr music
   1. to decorate (a melody line or part) with ornamentation
   2. to provide figures above or below (a bass part) as an indication of the accompanying harmonies required See figured bass thorough bass
9. intrusually foll byin to be included

   his name figures in the article

10. informal.
    intr to accord with expectation; be logical

    it figures that he wouldn't come

11. go figure informal.
    go figure an expression of surprise, astonishment, wonder, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈfigureless, adjective
• ˈfigurer, noun

Other Words From

• fig·ur·a·ble adjective
• fig·ure·less adjective
• fig·ur·er noun
• out·fig·ure verb (used with object) outfigured outfiguring
• re·fig·ure verb (used with object) refigured refiguring
• sub·fig·ure noun
• un·fig·ur·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of figure¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin figūra “shape, trope,” equivalent to fig- (base of fingere “to shape”) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of figure¹

C13: from Latin figūra a shape, from fingere to mould

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cut a figure. cut ( defs 87, 88b ).

More idioms and phrases containing figure

• ballpark figure
• in round numbers (figures)
• it figures

Synonym Study

See form.

Example Sentences

Additionally, since NBCU’s program will be measuring against product sales, advertisers will be able to judge for themselves whether NBCU’s results align with their internal figures.

From Digiday

Instead, the country has seen at least 193,000 deaths, a figure that is probably an underestimation.

From Washington Post

As previously reported by Modern Retail, Walmart is currently focused on customer retention and experts expect the membership program to help boost those figures.

From Digiday

San Diego Unified has not made similar figures available, but we know the district is worried.

From Voice of San Diego

Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and one of the most influential figures inside his administration, is said to be quoted extensively in Rage.

From Fortune

There were rumors of shrieks and flashes emanating from the well, and reports of a figure in white.

From The Daily Beast

Even other men of color considered Revels a curious figure, for Mississippi had never had a large free black population.

From The Daily Beast

The people who are involved in the violence, they figure out ways to remain here at all costs and continue causing trouble.

From The Daily Beast

Several of them disputed the figure of six million Jewish deaths in the Holocaust.

From The Daily Beast

But the last national figure to wield ancient personal authority in an explicitly religious way was Robert F. Kennedy.

From The Daily Beast

He was tall and of familiar figure, and the firelight was playing in the tossed curls of his short, fair hair.

From Project Gutenberg

Their opportunities and earnings are relatively small, and in order to live they must figure closely.

From Project Gutenberg

It was when the face and figure of a great tragedian began to haunt her imagination and stir her senses.

From Project Gutenberg

Tressan fell suddenly to groaning and wringing his hands a pathetic figure had it been less absurd.

From Project Gutenberg

Her tall figure—she was taller than he by at least three inches—was beautiful in its commanding, yet not vulgar, self-possession.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amount
• character
• cost
• number
• price
• rate
• sum
• symbol
• total