figure
19 ENTRIES FOUND:
- figure (noun)
- figure (verb)
- figure–of–eight (noun)
- figure eight (noun)
- figure of speech (noun)
- figure skate (noun)
- figure skating (noun)
- action figure (noun)
- double figures (noun)
- father figure (noun)
- mother figure (noun)
- six–figure (adjective)
- stick figure (noun)
- cut (verb)
- fine (adjective)
- fun (noun)
- go (verb)
- man (noun)
- near (adverb)
plural
figures
plural
figures
Britannica Dictionary definition of FIGURE
[count]
1
a
:
a symbol that represents a number
:
digit
-
He has a six-figure salary. [=he has a salary of at least $100,000]
b
:
a value that is expressed in numbers
-
Are you sure of your figures?
-
I came up with a very different figure.
-
No precise/exact/official figures are available yet.
-
The company had yearly sales figures of half a million units.
◊ If you have a good head for figures, you are good at making calculations with numbers. If you have no head for figures, you are bad at making calculations with numbers.
-
She has a good head for figures, so I'm not surprised that she became an accountant.
2
a
:
a person or animal that can be seen only as a shape or outline
-
We could barely make out some figures moving in the mist.
b
:
the shape or form of a person's body
-
the human figure
-
the male/female figure
◊ Figure in this sense usually refers to women rather than men.
-
She has a very shapely figure. [=body]
-
a full figure
-
a slim, youthful figure
-
She likes to wear clothes that show off her figure.
c
◊ The phrases a fine figure of a man and (less commonly) a fine figure of a woman describe someone who is tall and has a strong and well-formed body.
-
The football coach is a fine figure of a man.
3
:
a drawing, sculpture, etc., that represents the form of a person or animal
—
see also stick figure
-
The vase is decorated with figures of birds and fish.
-
The walls of the cave are covered with drawings of human and animal figures.
-
a male/female figure
-
a collection of bronze/carved figures
-
a cardboard figure
-
a cartoon figure
4
:
a person who has a specified status or who is regarded in a specified way
—
see also action figure, father figure, mother figure
-
a noted/familiar/popular/prominent sports figure
-
He began by writing letters to well-known figures in journalism.
-
a mysterious/shadowy figure
-
She's a key figure in the organization.
-
He has become a figure of contempt. [=someone who is regarded with contempt]
-
a figure of fun/ridicule [=someone who is laughed at or ridiculed]
-
a figure of authority = an authority figure [=a person who has authority over other people]
5
a
:
a diagram or picture
— abbreviation fig.
-
Turn your attention to the figure on page 15.
b
mathematics
:
a combination of points, lines, or surfaces in geometry
-
A circle is a closed plane figure.
-
geometric figures
2
figure
/ˈfɪgjɚ/
Brit
/ˈfɪgə/
verb
figures;
figured;
figuring
2
figure
/ˈfɪgjɚ/
Brit
/ˈfɪgə/
verb
figures;
figured;
figuring
Britannica Dictionary definition of FIGURE
1
[+ object]
:
to expect or think (something)
-
I figured (that) they would lose. [=I expected them to lose]
-
I figured [=thought] he'd get tired of it in a few days.
-
The media figured that she would be the appointee. = The media figured her to be the appointee.
-
“They lost.” “I figured as much.”
-
(US) He figured [=expected] to lose money in the deal.
2
US, informal
a
[+ object]
:
to understand or find (something, such as a reason) by thinking
-
Their reasons for doing this are hard to figure. [=figure out]
-
I've finally figured [=figured out] a way to manage my time better.
-
We've got to figure [=find] a way out of this mess.
b
[no object]
:
to appear likely to do something
-
She figures to finish by noon.
-
He doesn't figure to win. [=he probably won't win]
3
[no object]
:
to be or appear important
:
to have an important part in something
-
The debate over tax rates figured prominently in the last election.
4
[+ object]
:
to calculate (an amount, cost, etc.)
-
He figured the cost at about $10,000.
-
The cost in dollars is easily figured.
5
[no object]
chiefly US, informal
:
to seem reasonable, normal, or expected
-
His explanation just doesn't figure. [=add up, make sense]
-
It figures [=it is not surprising] that he would be late today.
-
“He's late.” “Well, it figures.”
-
That figures. [=that doesn't surprise me]
figure in
[phrasal verb]
1
figure (something) in
or
figure in (something)
US
:
to include (something) while making calculations
-
When they were preparing a budget, they forgot to figure in [=factor in] occasional travel expenses.
2
figure in (something)
:
to be involved in (something, such as an activity)
-
persons who figured in the robbery
figure into
[phrasal verb]
figure into (something)
US
:
to be included as a part of (something)
-
Age may figure into the equation.
figure on
[phrasal verb]
1
figure on (something)
US, informal
:
to expect to get or have (something)
-
They weren't figuring on the extra income.
2
:
to plan to do (something)
-
I figure on going [=I plan to go] downtown later today.
figure out
[phrasal verb]
1
figure out (something)
or
figure (something) out
a
:
to understand or find (something, such as a reason or a solution) by thinking
-
I'm trying to figure out a way to do it.
-
He claims he has it all figured out.
-
I finally figured it out.
-
I can't figure out why he does these crazy things.
b
:
to find an answer or solution for (something, such as a problem)
-
figure out [=solve] a math problem
2
figure (someone) out
or
figure out (someone)
:
to understand the behavior of (someone)
-
He does these crazy things, and I just can't figure him out.
go figure
US, informal
— used to say that something is surprising or hard to understand
-
After losing their first six games, they won the next ten. Go figure.
