GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Figure , n. [F., figure, L. figura; akin to fingere to form, shape, feign. See Feign.]
   The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance.
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   Flowers have all exquisite figures.
   Bacon.
   
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   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.
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   A coin that bears the figure of an angel.
   Shak.
   
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   A pattern in cloth, paper, or other manufactured article; a design wrought out in a fabric; as, the muslin was of a pretty figure.
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   (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.
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   The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person; as, a sorry figure.
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   I made some figure there.
   Dryden.
   
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   Gentlemen of the best figure in the county.
   Blackstone.
   
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   Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendor; show.
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   That he may live in figure and indulgence.
   Law.
   
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   A character or symbol representing a number; a numeral; a digit; as, 1, 2,3, etc.
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   Value, as expressed in numbers; price; as, the goods are estimated or sold at a low figure. [Colloq.]
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   With nineteen thousand a year at the very lowest figure.
   Thackeray.
   
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   A person, thing, or action, conceived of as analogous to another person, thing, or action, of which it thus becomes a type or representative.
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   Who is the figure of Him that was to come.
   Rom. v. 14.
   
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   (Rhet.) 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.
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   To represent the imagination under the figure of a wing.
   Macaulay.
   
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   (Logic) The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
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   (Dancing) Any one of the several regular steps or movements made by a dancer.
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   (Astrol.) A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.
   Johnson.
   
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   (Music) (a) Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.
   Grove.
   (b) A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a musical phrase or motive; a florid embellishment.
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   ☞ Figures are often written upon the staff in music to denote the kind of measure. They are usually in the form of a fraction, the upper figure showing how many notes of the kind indicated by the lower are contained in one measure or bar. Thus, 2/4 signifies that the measure contains two quarter notes. The following are the principal figures used for this purpose: -- 
   2/22/42/8 4/22/44/8 3/23/43/8 6/46/46/8
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   Academy figure, Canceled figures, Lay figure, etc. See under Academy, Cancel, Lay, etc. -- Figure caster, or Figure flinger, an astrologer. “This figure caster.” Milton. -- 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 (Min.), agalmatolite. -- Figure weaving, the art or process of weaving figured fabrics. -- To cut a figure, to make a display. [Colloq.] Sir W. Scott.
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2.       
   Figure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Figured ; p. pr. & vb. n. Figuring.] [F. figurer, L. figurare, fr. figura. See Figure, n.]
   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.
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   If love, alas! be pain I bear,
   
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   No thought can figure, and no tongue declare.Prior.
   
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   To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.
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   The vaulty top of heaven
   Figured quite o'er with burning meteors.
   Shak.
   
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   To indicate by numerals; also, to compute.
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   As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen.
   Dryden.
   
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   To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.
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   Whose white vestments figure innocence.
   Shak.
   
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   To prefigure; to foreshow.
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   In this the heaven figures some event.
   Shak.
   
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   (Mus.) (a) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. (b) To embellish.
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   To figure out, to solve; to compute or find the result of. -- To figure up, to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of.
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3.       
   Figure, v. i.
   To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as, the envoy figured at court.
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   Sociable, hospitable, eloquent, admired, figuring away brilliantly.
   M. Arnold.
   
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   To calculate; to contrive; to scheme; as, he is figuring to secure the nomination. [Colloq.]
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   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. [Colloq.]
   PJC