Meaning of figure in English
Table of contents
Verb
figureDefinitions
1. judge to be probableDerived terms
- 2. be or play a part of or in
Examples
- « Elections figure prominently in every government program »
- « How do the elections figure in the current pattern of internal politics? »
- 3. imagine
Examples
- « conceive of »
- « see in one's mind »
- « I can't see him on horseback! »
- « I can see what will happen »
- « I can see a risk in this strategy »
Derived terms
- 4. make a mathematical calculation or computation
Derived terms
- 5. understand
Examples
- « He didn't figure her »
Noun
figureEtymology
Middle English (in the senses ‘distinctive shape of a person or thing’, ‘representation of something material or immaterial’, and ‘numerical symbol’, among others): from Old French figure (noun), figurer (verb), from Latin figura‘shape, figure, form’; related to fingere‘form, contrive’Definitions
1. a diagram or picture illustrating textual materialExamples
- « the area covered can be seen from Figure 2 »
- 2. alternative names for the body of a human being
Examples
- « Leonardo studied the human body »
- « he has a strong physique »
- « the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak »
- 3. one of the elements that collectively form a system of numbers
Examples
- « 0 and 1 are digits »
Derived terms
- 4. a model of a bodily form (especially of a person)
Examples
- « he made a figure of Santa Claus »
- 5. a well-known or notable person
Examples
- « they studied all the great names in the history of France »
- « she is an important figure in modern music »
- 6. a combination of points and lines and planes that form a visible palpable shape
- 7. an amount of money expressed numerically
Examples
- « a figure of $17 was suggested »
Derived terms
- 8. the impression produced by a person
Examples
- « he cut a fine figure »
- « a heroic figure »
- 9. the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
Examples
- « he had a number of chores to do »
- « the number of parameters is small »
- « the figure was about a thousand »
Derived terms
- 10. language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense
- 11. a unitary percept having structure and coherence that is the object of attention and that stands out against a ground
Antonyms
- 12. a decorative or artistic work
Examples
- « the coach had a design on the doors »
Derived terms
- 13. a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating
Examples
- « she made the best score on compulsory figures »
Famous quotes
- « I don't let it bother me too much if someone doesn't like me. I just figure there's no accounting for taste. It's not me, it's my acting. It's like if someone doesn't like someone's food, they just don't like my acting. » Anna Chlumsky
- « If the education and studies of children were suited to their inclinations and capacities, many would be made useful members of society that otherwise would make no figure in it. » Samuel Richardson
- « What I loved about the acting class was that you got to think all day long about a person that wasn't you, and figure out why they were sad and what they wanted, what they dreamed. » Beth Henley
- « We were poor. But my mom never accepted that. She worked hard to become a residential contractor - got her master's with honors at the University of New Orleans. I used to go to every class with her. Her father was my paternal figure. » Frank Ocean
- « My dad's not a very intimidating father figure. » Georgia Jagger