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Figure Fig"ure (f[i^]g"[-u]r; 135), n. [F., figure, L. figura; akin to fingere to form, shape, feign. See Feign.] 1. The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance. [1913 Webster]

Flowers have all exquisite figures. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

A coin that bears the figure of an angel. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

4. (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. [1913 Webster]

5. The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person; as, a sorry figure. [1913 Webster]

I made some figure there. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Gentlemen of the best figure in the county. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]

6. Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendor; show. [1913 Webster]

That he may live in figure and indulgence. --Law. [1913 Webster]

7. A character or symbol representing a number; a numeral; a digit; as, 1, 2,3, etc. [1913 Webster]

8. Value, as expressed in numbers; price; as, the goods are estimated or sold at a low figure. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

With nineteen thousand a year at the very lowest figure. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Who is the figure of Him that was to come. --Rom. v. 14. [1913 Webster]

10. (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}. [1913 Webster]

To represent the imagination under the figure of a wing. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

11. (Logic) The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term. [1913 Webster]

12. (Dancing) Any one of the several regular steps or movements made by a dancer. [1913 Webster]

13. (Astrol.) A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]

14. (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. [1913 Webster]

Note: 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 [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]

Figure Fig"ure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Figured; p. pr. & vb. n. Figuring.] [F. figurer, L. figurare, fr. figura. See Figure, n.] 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. [1913 Webster]

If love, alas! be pain I bear, [1913 Webster]

No thought can figure, and no tongue declare.Prior. [1913 Webster]

2. To embellish with design; to adorn with figures. [1913 Webster]

The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o er with burning meteors. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. To indicate by numerals; also, to compute. [1913 Webster]

As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4. To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize. [1913 Webster]

Whose white vestments figure innocence. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. To prefigure; to foreshow. [1913 Webster]

In this the heaven figures some event. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6. (Mus.) (a) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. (b) To embellish. [1913 Webster]

{To figure out}, to solve; to compute or find the result of.

{To figure up}, to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of. [1913 Webster]

Figure Fig"ure, v. i. 1. To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as, the envoy figured at court. [1913 Webster]

Sociable, hospitable, eloquent, admired, figuring away brilliantly. --M. Arnold. [1913 Webster]

2. To calculate; to contrive; to scheme; as, he is figuring to secure the nomination. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

{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]