Figure — Defs

01 n. The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance.

1.
The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance.
“Flowers have all exquisite figures.” — Bacon.
2.
The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modeling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body; as, a figure in bronze; a figure cut in marble.
“A coin that bears the figure of an angel.” — Shak.
3.
A pattern in cloth, paper, or other manufactured article; a design wrought out in a fabric; as, the muslin was of a pretty figure.
4.
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.(Geom.)
5.
The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person; as, a sorry figure.
“I made some figure there.” — Dryden.

“Gentlemen of the best figure in the county.” — Blackstone.
6.
Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendor; show.
“That he may live in figure and indulgence.” — Law.
7.
A character or symbol representing a number; a numeral; a digit; as, 1, 2,3, etc.
8.
Value, as expressed in numbers; price; as, the goods are estimated or sold at a low figure.[Colloq.]
“With nineteen thousand a year at the very lowest figure.” — Thackeray.
9.
A person, thing, or action, conceived of as analogous to another person, thing, or action, of which it thus becomes a type or representative.
“Who is the figure of Him that was to come.” — Rom. v. 14.
10.
A mode of expressing abstract or immaterial ideas by words which suggest pictures or images from the physical world; pictorial language; a trope; hence, any deviation from the plainest form of statement. Also called a figure of speech.(Rhet.) Also: figure of speech
“To represent the imagination under the figure of a wing.” — Macaulay.
11.
The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.(Logic)
12.
Any one of the several regular steps or movements made by a dancer.(Dancing)
13.
A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.(Astrol.)
14.
Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.(Music)
15.
A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a musical phrase or motive; a florid embellishment.

Phrases & compounds

Academy figure — See under Academy, Cancel, Lay, etc.

Figure caster — an astrologer.

Figure flinging — the practice of astrology.

Figure-of-eight knot — a knot shaped like the figure 8. See Illust. under Knot.

Figure painting — a picture of the human figure, or the act or art of depicting the human figure.

Figure stone — agalmatolite.

Figure weaving — the art or process of weaving figured fabrics.

To cut a figure — to make a display.

02 v. t. To represent by a figure, as to form or mold; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape.

imp. & p. p. Figured; p. pr. & vb. n. Figuring

1.
To represent by a figure, as to form or mold; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape.
“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.
4.
To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.
“Whose white vestments figure innocence.” — Shak.
5.
To prefigure; to foreshow.
“In this the heaven figures some event.” — Shak.
6.
To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords.(Mus.)

Phrases & compounds

To figure out — to solve; to compute or find the result of.

To figure up — to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of.

03 v. i. To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as, the envoy figured at court.

1.
To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as, the envoy figured at court.
“Sociable, hospitable, eloquent, admired, figuring away brilliantly.” — M. Arnold.
2.
To calculate; to contrive; to scheme; as, he is figuring to secure the nomination.[Colloq.]

Phrases & compounds

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.