Definition of Figure

Fig´ure   Pronunciation: fĭg´ũr; 135
n.1.The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance.
Flowers have all exquisite figures.
- Bacon.
A coin that bears the figure of an angel.
- Shak.
4.(Geom.) A diagram or drawing, made to represent a magnitude or the relation of two or more magnitudes; a surface or space inclosed on all sides; - called superficial when inclosed by lines, and solid when inclosed by surfaces; any arrangement made up of points, lines, angles, surfaces, etc.
I made some figure there.
- Dryden.
Gentlemen of the best figure in the county.
- Blackstone.
That he may live in figure and indulgence.
- Law.
With nineteen thousand a year at the very lowest figure.
- Thackeray.
Who is the figure of Him that was to come.
- Rom. v. 14.
To represent the imagination under the figure of a wing.
- Macaulay.
11.(Logic) The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
12.(Dancing) Any one of the several regular steps or movements made by a dancer.
13.(Astrol.) A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.
14.(Music) Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.
Academy figure
See under Academy, Cancel, Lay, etc.
Figure caster
an astrologer.
Figure flinging
the practice of astrology.
- Milton.
Figure-of-eight knot
Figure painting
Figure stone
(Min.) agalmatolite.
Figure weaving
the art or process of weaving figured fabrics.
To cut a figure
to make a display.
- Sir W. Scott.
[imp. & p. p. Figured ; p. pr. & vb. n. Figuring.]
If love, alas! be pain I bear,
No thought can figure, and no tongue declare.Prior.
2.To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.
The vaulty top of heaven
Figured quite o'er with burning meteors.
- Shak.
3.To indicate by numerals; also, to compute.
As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen.
- Dryden.
Whose white vestments figure innocence.
- Shak.
5.To prefigure; to foreshow.
In this the heaven figures some event.
- Shak.
6.(Mus.) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords.
To figure out
to solve; to compute or find the result of.
To figure up
to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of.
go figure
a phrase used by itself as an interjection to mean "How can one explain that?", or to express puzzlement over some seeming contradiction.

Related Words

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Figural numbers
Figurate counterpoint
Figurate numbers
Figurative counterpoint
Figure caster
Figure flinging
Figure painting
Figure stone
Figure weaving
Figure-of-eight knot
Figured bass

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