Fig"ure (?; 135), n. [F., figure, L. figura; akin to fingere to form, shape, feign. See Feign.]
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. 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 surface; any arrangement made up of points, lines, angles, surfaces, etc.
5.
The appearance or impression made by the conduct or carrer 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. 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.
To represent the imagination under the figure of a wing.
Macaulay.
11. Logic
The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
12. Dancing
Any one of the several regular steps or movements made by a dancer.
13. Astrol.
A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.
Johnson.
14. Music
- Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.
Grove.
- A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a musical or motive; a florid embellishment.
⇒ 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
Academy figure, Canceled figures, Lay figure, etc. See under Academy, Cancel, Lay, etc. -- Figure caster, ∨ 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
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. Mus.
- To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords.
- To embellish.
To figure out, to solve; to compute or find the result of. -- To figure up, to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of.
© Webster 1913.
Fig"ure, v. t.
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.]
© Webster 1913. | 
