Meaning of figure in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈfɪɡjər/

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  1. Verb

    figure

    Definitions

    1. judge to be probable

    Derived terms

  2. 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. 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. 4. make a mathematical calculation or computation

    Derived terms

  5. 5. understand

    Examples

    • « He didn't figure her »

  6. Noun

    figure

    Etymology

    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 material

    Examples

    • « the area covered can be seen from Figure 2 »
  7. 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 »
  8. 3. one of the elements that collectively form a system of numbers

    Examples

    • « 0 and 1 are digits »

    Derived terms

  9. 4. a model of a bodily form (especially of a person)

    Examples

    • « he made a figure of Santa Claus »
  10. 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 »
  11. 6. a combination of points and lines and planes that form a visible palpable shape
  12. 7. an amount of money expressed numerically

    Examples

    • « a figure of $17 was suggested »

    Derived terms

  13. 8. the impression produced by a person

    Examples

    • « he cut a fine figure »
    • « a heroic figure »
  14. 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

  15. 10. language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense
  16. 11. a unitary percept having structure and coherence that is the object of attention and that stands out against a ground

    Antonyms

  17. 12. a decorative or artistic work

    Examples

    • « the coach had a design on the doors »

    Derived terms

  18. 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

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