figure

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1. Both the noun and the verb are pronounced fig-ǝ in British English but fig-yǝ in American English. The derivative forms figural, figuration, and figurine have the -y-sound in both British English and American English; but figurative (figǝ-rǝ-tiv) lacks it in British English.

2. As a verb, figure is used informally, especially in American English and often with out, to mean 'work out, calculate, think'. To figure on something is to plan it or take it for granted, and in American English something figures when it makes sense or seems likely.

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also figure out

noun

1. Arithmetic calculations arithmetic, computation, number (used in plural). See count.
2. The external outline of a thing: cast, configuration, form, pattern, shape. See surface/depth.
3. An element or a component in a decorative composition: design, device, motif, motive, pattern. See part/whole.

verb

1. To ascertain by mathematics: calculate, cast, cipher, compute, reckon. See reason/unreason.
2. To have an opinion: believe, consider, deem, hold, opine, think. Informal judge. Idioms: be of the opinion. See opinion.

phrasal verb - figure on

To look forward to confidently: anticipate, await, bargain for (or on), count on, depend on (or upon), expect, look for, wait (for),, surprise/expect.

phrasal verb - figure out

1. To find a solution for: clear up, decipher, explain, resolve, solve, unravel. Informal dope out. Idioms: get to the bottom of. See ask/answer, reason/unreason.
2. To arrive at an answer to (a mathematical problem): solve, work, work out. See reason/unreason.

Idioms beginning with figure:
figure up

See also ballpark figure; in round numbers (figures); it figures.

n

Definition: famous person
Antonyms: commoner

n

Definition: numeral; numeric value
Antonyms: letter

v

Definition: calculate, compute
Antonyms: estimate, guess

A short melodic idea with a particular identity of rhythm and/or contour. See Motif.

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figure (or figure of speech)an expression that departs from the accepted literal sense or from the normal order of words, or in which an emphasis is produced by patterns of sound. Such figurative language isan especially important resource of poetry, although not every poem will use it; it is also constantly present in all other kinds of speech and writing, even though it usually passes unnoticed. The ancient theory of rhetoric named and categorized dozens of figures, drawing a rough and often disputed distinction between those (known as tropes or figures of thought) that extend the meaning of words, and those that merely affect their order or their impact upon an audience (known as figures of speech, schemes, or rhetorical figures). The most important tropes are metaphor, simile, metonymy, synecdoche, personification, and irony; others include hyperbole (overstatement), litotes (understatement), and periphrasis (circumlocution). The minor rhetorical figures can emphasize or enlivena point in several different ways: by placing words in contrast with one another ( antithesis), by repeating words in various patterns ( anadiplosis, anaphora, antistrophe, chiasmus), by changing the order of words ( hyperbaton), by missing out conjunctions ( asyndeton), by changing course or breaking off in mid‐sentence ( anacoluthon, aposiopesis), or by assuming special modes of address ( apostrophe) or inquiry ( rhetorical question). A further category of figures, sometimes known as ‘figures of sound’, achieves emphasis by the repetition of sounds, as in alliteration, assonance, and consonance.

Pattern and natural markings in a wood surface formed by an unusual arrangement or color of the wood fibers and rays. These deviations produce such figures as blister, bird’s-eye, fiddleback, etc.

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The pattern produced in a wood surface by annual growth rings, rays, knots, deviations from regular grain, such as interlocked and wavy, and irregular coloration.

IN BRIEF: The shape or outline of something. Also: to compute or calculate.

No one can figure out your worth but you. — Pearl Bailey (1918-1990).

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

as in: body shape
sign description: Both hands make a waving motion in front of the body.

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For a list of words related to figure, see:

• Aspects and Components of Appearance - figure: shape, musculature, and posture of body
• Kinds of Paintings - figure: drawing of a human body and face
• Harmony, Melody, and Structure - figure: shortest musical idea or motif in composition
• Ballet - figure: step, leap, small combination
• Events, Steps, and Dancers - figure: dance step, position, or combination of steps
• Thinking, Judgment, and Consideration - figure: regard, consider
• Reasoning and Examination - figure: calculate; conclude

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See words rhyming with "figure."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Figure.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
n. - tal, ciffer, figur, billede, skikkelse
v. tr. - forestille sig, beregne, figurere, præge
v. intr. - forekomme, foretage beregninger, vise sig at være

idioms:

• cut a figure    gøre en figur
• figure eight    ottetal
• figure in    tage med i beregning
• figure of fun    være til grin
• figure of speech    talemåde
• figure on    stole på
• figure out    regne ud
• figure skating    kunstskøjteløb
• put a figure on    sætte et tal på

Nederlands (Dutch)
figuur, vorm, persoon, cijfer, prijs, (letter) teken, patroon, dansfiguur, muzikaal thema, berekenen, menen, begrijpen, betrokken zijn, als figuur weergeven, met een patroon versieren, met cijfers weergeven, besluiten, belangrijk/ opzienbarend zijn, dansfiguur uitvoeren

Français (French)
n. - stature, chiffre, personnalité, personnage, ligne (silhouette), figure (géométrique), figure (diagramme), figure de style (danse)
v. tr. - (Littérat) symboliser, (US) penser, estimer, évaluer, (Tex) brocher, gaufrer, impurer, penser ou se dire que
v. intr. - se comprendre, (US) sembler logique ou normal, figurer, représenter, (Mus) chiffrer (la basse)

idioms:

• cut a figure    faire figure, faire impression
• figure eight    un huit
• figure in    (US) inclure, compter
• figure of fun    guignol
• figure of speech    figure de rhétorique, façon de parler
• figure on    compter sur, s'attendre à
• figure out    calculer, arriver à comprendre, résoudre, (US) coûter
• figure skating    figure de patinage artistique
• figure someone out    comprendre qn
• go figure!    chiffrer, calculer
• put a figure on    mettre un prix sur, évaluer

Deutsch (German)
n. - Gestalt, Figur, Persönlichkeit, Symbol, Abbildung, Ziffer, Zahl, Rechnen
v. - sich vorstellen, darstellen, verzieren, erscheinen, verstehen, meinen, rechnen, beziffern

idioms:

• cut a figure    eine Figur abgeben
• figure eight    Form der Zahl acht
• figure in    vorkommen, erscheinen
• figure of fun    Witzfigur
• figure of speech    Redefigur
• figure on    rechnen mit
• figure out    ausrechnen, begreifen
• figure skating    Eiskunstlauf
• figure someone out    begreifen, jmdn. verstehen, ausrechnen
• go figure!    (AmE) (inf) stell dir [nur] vor!
• put a figure on    einen Betrag nennen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - σχήμα, μορφή, αξία (εκφραζόμενη σε αριθμούς), φιγούρα, περίγραμμα, (ανθρώπινη) σιλουέτα, μεγαλόσχημος, διάγραμμα, (σχηματική) παράσταση, σειρά χορευτικών κινήσεων (κν. φιγούρα), (μαθ.) αραβικός αριθμός, ψηφίο, σύντομη μουσική φράση
v. - υποθέτω, φαντάζομαι, υπολογίζω, εμφανίζομαι, φιγουράρω, παίζω σημαντικό ρόλο

idioms:

• cut a figure    εντυπωσιάζω
• figure eight    φιγούρα, ελιγμός σε σχήμα οκτώ
• figure in    εμφανίζομαι, παίζω σημαντικό ρόλο σε
• figure of fun    περίγελος
• figure of speech    σχήμα λόγου
• figure on    βασίζομαι/ποντάρω σε
• figure out    υπολογίζω, λογαριάζω, αντιλαμβάνομαι
• figure skating    καλλιτεχνικό πατινάζ
• lay figure    ανδρείκελο, μαριονέτα, ενεργούμενο
• put a figure on    υπολογίζω κατά προσέγγιση

Italiano (Italian)
immaginare, calcolare, figura, cifra, tema

idioms:

• cut a figure    fare un figurine
• figure eight    nodo sabaudo
• figure in    includere
• figure of fun    zimbello
• figure of speech    modo di dire
• figure on    contare su
• figure out    capire, prevedere
• figure skating    pattinaggio artistico
• put a figure on    dare un prezzo a

Português (Portuguese)
n. - número (m), figura (f)
v. - calcular, desenhar, supor

idioms:

• cut a figure    representar (parecer)
• figure eight    objeto (m) em forma de oito
• figure in    destacar-se
• figure of fun    motivo de chacota (pessoa)
• figure of speech    figura (f) de linguagem
• figure on    planejar
• figure out    calcular, entender
• figure skating    patinação artística sobre o gelo
• put a figure on    calcular o número exato

Русский (Russian)
полагать, фигурировать, представлять, участвовать, обозначать цифрами, цифра, число, чертеж, диаграмма, фигура, персона, воплощение, личность

idioms:

• cut a figure    быть представительным
• figure eight    восьмерка
• figure in    фигурировать
• figure of fun    объект насмешек
• figure of speech    образное выражение
• figure on    рассчитывать на, полагаться, планировать, находиться
• figure out    вычислять, постигать, подсчитать
• figure skating    фигурное катание
• put a figure on    оценить

Español (Spanish)
n. - forma, línea, silueta, cifra, guarismo, número, dígito, figura, sujeto, individuo, tipo, dibujo, estampa, tema
v. tr. - suponer, calcular, sumar
v. intr. - figurarse, imaginarse

idioms:

• cut a figure    hacer (buen, mal) papel, tener presencia
• figure eight    número ocho, en forma de ocho
• figure in    tomar en cuenta, incluir
• figure of fun    persona grotesca
• figure of speech    figura de dicción, figura retórica
• figure on    esperar, contar con, planear
• figure out    comprender, resolver, deducir, explicarse
• figure skating    patinaje artístico
• figure someone out    comprender, resolver, deducir, explicarse
• go figure!    que bueno!, genial!
• put a figure on    poner precio a algo, dar una cifra exacta

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - siffra belopp, figur, person, gestalt (bildl.), illustration, staty, figur (i dans), figur (mus.), figur (logik.), symbol, horoskop
v. - beräkna, anta, föreställa, pryda med figurer, avbilda, beteckna med siffror, framträda

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
图形, 形状, 数字, 描绘, 演算, 表示, 出现, 出名, 估计

idioms:

• cut a figure    崭露头角, 出风头
• figure eight    八字形
• figure in    把...计算在内
• figure of fun    奇形怪状的人, 样子可笑的人
• figure of speech    修辞, 比喻说法
• figure on    料想
• figure out    算出, 理解, 想出
• figure skating    花式溜冰
• put a figure on    大概估计

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 圖形, 形狀, 數位
v. tr. - 描繪, 演算, 表示
v. intr. - 出現, 出名, 估計

idioms:

• cut a figure    嶄露頭角, 出風頭
• figure eight    八字形
• figure in    把...計算在內
• figure of fun    奇形怪狀的人, 樣子可笑的人
• figure of speech    修辭, 比喻說法
• figure on    料想
• figure out    算出, 理解, 想出
• figure skating    花式溜冰
• put a figure on    大概估計

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 모양, 명사, 그림, 숫자
v. tr. - ~을 형태로 나타내다
v. intr. - 나타나다, 연기하다, 계산하다

idioms:

• cut a figure    두각을 나타내다
• figure in    계산에 넣다
• figure on    고려하다, 의지하다, 믿다
• figure out    계산하다, ~을 생각해내다
• put a figure on    셈하다, (비용을) 계산하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 数字, 位, 計算, 姿, 容姿, スタイル, 図, 図形, 人物像, 人物, 画像, 図案, 模様, 人の姿
v. - 思う, 心に描く, 想像する, 通る, 役を演じる, 筋が通る, 現われる

idioms:

• figure eight    エイト
• figure in    計算に加える, 登場する
• figure of fun    おもしろい人物
• figure of speech    比喩的表現
• figure on    計算に入れる, あてにする
• figure out    理解する, 計算してなる
• figure skating    フィギュアスケート
• put a figure on    当てにする

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) رقم , عدد , شكل , رسم توضيحي , شخص (فعل) يصور , يصف , يكسب‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮צורה, דמות, גוף, אדם, אישיות, ספרה, מספר, מחיר, חשבון, חישובים, שרטוט להמחשה, דוגמה קישוטית, חיזוי העתיד, קבוצת צלילים היוצרים נושא ללחן, סטייה מותרת מכללי ההבעה הרגילים למשל: השמטת מלים‬
v. tr. - ‮האמין, חשב, תיאר, הציג באיור, חישב, סימל, הבין, וידא‬
v. intr. - ‮הופיע (בספר), נראה כסביר‬

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