单词	figure
释义	figure1 nounfigure2 verb figurefig‧ure1 /ˈfɪɡə $ ˈfɪɡjər/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] Entry menu MENU FOR figurefigure1 number2 amount of money3 person4 woman’s body5 father/mother/authority figure6 figures7 mathematical shape8 painting/model9 drawing10 put a figure on it/give an exact figure11 a fine figure of a man/woman12 a figure of fun13 on ice Word Origin WORD ORIGINfigure1 Origin: 1200-1300 French, Latin figura, from fingere ‘to shape, make’ Examples EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES ""We need $30,000 to get the project started.'' ""How close are you to that figure?'' a figure in a red robe A comparison of the two figures shows the estimated profit on investment. a rare 16th century Japanese figure Add up that row of figures, and transfer the full amount to the top of the next page. Ali was one of the great sports figures of this century. Caroline really has a terrific figure. Dark figures emerged from the building, and disappeared into the night. Exercise and a sensible diet will help you get your figure back after having a baby. Freddy's bent figure limped in front of him. Government figures published today show that unemployment is rising again. He offered to buy the team for the figure of $140 million. I saw the figure of a woman below the bridge. Inflation in Japan is around 3%, while the German figure is now over 4%. Ohio's employment figures for December are not available. On a cheque, write the amount in words and in figures. Retailers are reporting their November sales figures today. sales figures She eats enormous meals but still manages to keep her figure. Susie wore a close-fitting black dress which made the most of her figure. EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS But for the writers and early translators of the Gospels, it was a very precise term, denoting a very exact figure. By the age of retirement that figure will increase to one in every five. Now, the. 78 figure might seem pretty good if one did not know two crucial facts about the study. She turned slowly and looked at the figure in the chair. That means a commitment to every figure in it, a commitment to taking a risk to achieve the budgeted outputs. The figures were recently released by the magazine. The Gingrich investigation is hardly the first time Cole has taken on highly placed public figures. The motionless figures ap-peared determined still to make the leap to the playground. Thesaurus THESAURUS► body the shape, size, and appearance of someone’s body: · Many women are not happy with their bodies.· His clothes emphasized his strong body. ► figure a woman’s figure is the shape of her body – used especially when it is attractive: · She has a really nice figure.· Freya had an enviably slim figure. ► build the size and shape of someone’s body – used in the following phrases: · Police described the man as tall and of medium build.· He was of heavy build.· She has a very slight build. ► physique the size and appearance of someone’s body – used especially about men who look attractive: · He was over 1.8 m tall with a muscular physique.· Ben has a very athletic physique. Longman Language Activatora number or amount that is approximately right► approximate · The measurements are approximate, but I think they'll do.· An expert could give you the approximate value of the painting.· Approximate journey time to London is four hours. ► rough : rough guess/calculation/estimate/indication approximately correct, and therefore not to be used for detailed or important work: · The report should give you a rough indication of the company's stock market performance over the past year.· I'd say that the whole thing would cost you around $1000, but that's just a rough estimate. ► ballpark figure a number or amount that is approximately correct - used especially in business: · A ballpark figure for the cost of the construction is $4.5 million.· A firm price hasn't been set yet, but the ballpark figure under discussion is $3 million.give somebody a ballpark figure: · Could you give me a ballpark figure? ► approximation formal a number or amount that is approximately correct: a reasonable approximation: · Five thousand dollars seems to be a reasonable approximation of the actual cost. the shape, size, or strength of a person's body► body the shape, size, and appearance of someone's body: · Calvin was not happy with his body, no matter how much he exercised.· Jane Fonda has an amazing body for a woman of her age. ► build the natural size and shape of someone's body: · You're exactly the right build for a rugby player -- you've got good strong broad shoulders.· He looks rather like me -- we both have the same build.of medium/slim/large/small etc build: · The man the police are looking for is about thirty years old, blond, and of medium build. ► figure the shape of someone's body, especially a woman's body: · When she was younger, Margaret was good-looking and charming, and had a lovely figure.· Susie wore a close-fitting black dress which made the most of her figure.keep your figure (=keep your body an attractive shape): · She eats enormous meals but still manages to keep her figure.get your figure back (=make your body an attractive shape again after having a baby etc): · Exercise and a sensible diet will help you get your figure back after having a baby. ► physique the shape of someone's body, especially a man's body - used especially to say how strong they look: · William was tall and handsome and had a slim, muscular physique.· Brad had a superb physique and the looks of a young Marlon Brando. an amount of money► amount the money that something costs, is paid etc: · Work out the amount you spend each month on food and clothes.· He expects to spend a similar amount on getting his daughter through college. · He was fined $300,000, an amount that would ruin the average householder.amount of money: · We spent an astonishing amount of money in town today.· The judge reduced the amount of money awarded to the victim. small/large/considerable amount: · She has a pension, and receives a small amount from her ex-husband.the full amount (=all the money that someone owes, must pay etc): · You must pay the full amount in advance.undisclosed amount (=when someone does not say what the amount was): · Heinz Co. acquired the ailing food company for an undisclosed amount. ► sum an amount of money - use this to say how large or small an amount is: · They are asking $40 for the new software, almost twice the sum it costs when bought via the Internet.sum of money: · My uncle left me a small sum of money when he died.sum of $100,000/£400 etc: · He offered to purchase the estate for the sum of $80,000.large/small/considerable/enormous etc sum: · Stars like Chaplin earned $2000 a week, which was an enormous sum in those days.· Apple has spent huge sums in its drive to penetrate new markets.· She puts away small sums of money when she can afford to.· The store chain has been forced to pay hefty sums (=a very large amount) to female employees after it was sued for discrimination.lump sum (=an amount of money given in a single payment): · You can receive your bonus in monthly instalments, or as a lump sum.· a lump-sum paymentundisclosed sum (=when someone does not say what the amount was): · The case was settled for an undisclosed sum last year.princely sum (=used to emphasize how small an amount is, when you think it should be bigger): · She and the other workers received the princely sum of $14 for the evening's work. ► figure a particular amount of money that is stated or written down: · "We need $30,000 to get the project started." "How close are you to that figure?"· A comparison of the two figures shows the estimated profit on investment.row/column of figures (=a list of figures written one below the other): · Add up that row of figures, and transfer the full amount to the top of the next page.a four-/five-/six-etc figure number (=a number in the thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands etc): · What's the point of a six-figure salary and no time to enjoy it?final figure (=the amount of money after everything has been added up): · The event raised $400,000 for charity, but that is not the final figure as donations are still coming in. a number used in representing a quantity► number a number of people, things etc, especially a number that has been counted for official purposes: · There have been several cases of tuberculosis, and the number is rising.number of: · The number of cars on the roads increased by 22% last year.· The regulations limit the number of students in each class.a large/small etc number of people/things etc: · An enormous number of people wrote to complain about last night's show. ► figure a number, especially an officially supplied number, showing an amount, how much something has increased, how much it has decreased etc: · Government figures published today show that unemployment is rising again.· The total value of all drugs seized by the police reached a record figure of $116,000,000.· Inflation in Japan is around 3%, while the German figure is now over 4%.sales figures: · Retailers are reporting their November sales figures today. ► statistics information about financial matters, social changes etc, which is shown in the form of numbers: · Statistics show that the number of women managers has risen continuously for the last 25 years.· According to the latest government statistics, 2 million people retired last year. ► toll the number of people killed or injured in accidents, by illness etc: · The final toll was 83 dead and more than 100 injured.death toll: · The death toll from the earthquake has risen still further in the worst disaster since 1952. a written number► number a word or sign that is used to talk about an exact quantity or to show the position of something in a series: · Each player has a number on the back of their shirt.number 12/20/4 etc: · I live at number 12 Liverpool Road.· Raffle ticket number 241 wins the dinner for two at La Fiorentina.even number (=2,4,6,8,10 etc): · The game works best with an even number of children.odd number (=1,3,5,7,9 etc): · All the doors on this side of the street have odd numbers.phone/passport/registration/licence etc number: · What's your phone number?· Write your social security number in the appropriate box of the tax form. ► figure a number written as a sign, not as a word: · On a cheque, write the amount in words and in figures.double figures (=more than 9 and less than 100) British: · Temperatures reached double figures for the first time this spring, going as high as 14 degrees.single figures (=less than 10) British: · The inflation rate was still in single figures. (=less than 10%)five-figure/six-figure etc (=a number that has five, six etc figures in it): · The managing director earns a six-figure salary.figure 8 (=a shape like the number 8): · The pond is shaped like a figure eight with a bridge across the middle. ► digit a single number between 0 and 9, for example 1, 5, or 8 - used especially in formal or technical contexts: · French telephone numbers have six digits.· This calculator can display only nine digits at a time.· To unlock the gate you must know the four-digit security code.double-digit (=more than 9 and less than 100)) American: · The nation has not experienced double-digit inflation for many years. ► numeral a sign that represents a number in a particular number system, especially a system that is no longer generally used: Arabic/Roman/European etc numerals: · The European numbers 1, 2, 3 and so on, are based on Arabic numerals.· The date was written in Roman numerals -- MCMLXXXII. the shape of something or someone► shape the shape that something is, for example a square, a circle etc: · You can get pasta in lots of different shapes.· What shape is the swimming pool?· The fruits are similar in shape and size to plums.· The desks form a U-shape, so that the teacher can interact easily with the students.· The pool was custom built, it is an unusual shape.· If a mole changes color or shape, see a doctor. ► form the shape of something - use this especially to talk about art or when the shape is not very clear: · Sleeping forms lay in groups and rows on the earth floor.· The painting consists of a series of interlocking forms. ► figure the shape of a person: · There were figures painted on the walls of the cave.· Dark figures emerged from the building, and disappeared into the night. figure of: · I saw the figure of a woman below the bridge. ► silhouette the dark shape of something or someone seen against a bright background: · The trees were silhouettes in the morning fog.silhouette of: · I saw the silhouette of someone waiting under the streetlight. ► profile the shape of someone's face when seen from the side: · an artist's sketch of McMillan's profile· He sat by the window, his handsome profile outlined against the sky.in profile: · They showed her a photo of a young brunette, taken in profile. ► outline a line around the edge of something that shows its shape: outline of: · The outline of a footprint was visible in the snow.· On the envelopes had been stamped the outlines of Santa Claus, holly, and a reindeer. ► contour the outer shape of something, that has a lot of curves, especially an area of land or a person's body: · The seat is adjustable to fit the contours of your back.· A topographical map shows the contours of the earth's surface. ► lines the outer shape of something long or tall, especially something that looks very graceful or attractive: · The dress's flowing lines are attractive on most women.lines of: · He noticed the long, slim lines of her legs beneath the colorful cotton skirt. WORD SETS► Finance above the line, adjectiveabsorption rate, acceptance sampling, accountant, nounaccount balance, accounting, nounaccounting rate of return, accrued cost, accrued income, accumulation unit, acid ratio, actual price, A/D, adjustable peg, nounADR, nounadvancer, nounAER, aftermarket, nounAGI, aging schedule, agio, nounAICPA, allottee, nounallowable, adjectivealternative investment, amortizable, adjectiveannual earnings, annual income, annual value, annuity, nounappraiser, nounappropriate, verbappropriation, nounappropriation account, arb, nounas at, prepositionas of, prepositionasset, nounasset backing, asset shuffling, nounasset stripping, nounasset-stripping, verbasset turnover, asset value per share, Association for Payment Clearing Services, nounassured value, at best, adverbat call, adverbaudit, verbauditor, nounauditor's report, auto-financing, adjectiveaverage stock, backdate, verbbackup withholding, nounbackwardation, nounbad debt recovery, bail-out, nounbalanced fund, balance sheet, nounBaltic Exchange, nounbankroll, nounbase rate, nounbasis point, bed-and-breakfasting, nounbellwether, nounbelow the line, adjectivebeneficial owner, best efforts, adjectivebeta coefficient, nounbid and asked, adjectivebill rate, Black Friday, nounBlack Thursday, nounBlack Tuesday, nounBlack Wednesday, nounblank transfer, bond, nounbond fund, bond premium, bookbuilding, nounbook debt, book entry, book-keeper, nounbook-keeping, nounbottom fisher, nounbought deal, bourse, nounbreakeven, nounbreak-up value, buildings and contents insurance, buoy, verbbuoyancy, nounbuoyant, adjectivebusiness angel, nounbusiness entity, business manager, buyback, nounbuy-in, nounbuying power, buying price, buy limit order, buy order, buyout, nouncabinet bid, callable, adjectivecallable fixture, nouncap and collar, nouncapital appreciation, capital asset pricing model, capital charge, capital dilution, nouncapital equipment, capital flow, nouncapital gain, capital invested, nouncapitalization of reserves, nouncapitalize, verbcapitalized, adjectivecapital movement, nouncapital outlay, capital rationing, nouncapital stock, capital sum, capital surplus, capital transfer, capital value, CAR, carried down, adjectivecarried forward, adjectivecarried over, adjectivecarryback, nouncarryforward, nouncarrying charge, carry-over, nouncash account, cash at bank, nouncash basis, nouncashbook, nouncash column, cash equivalent, cash flow, nouncashless, adjectivecash management, cash price, CBOT, c/d, certificate of deposit, nouncertificate of occupancy, nouncertified public accountant, nounCFO, chain of title, nounChapter 7, nounChartered Financial Consultant, nounchartist, nounchattels real, nounChicago Board Options Exchange, nounChicago Mercantile Exchange, nounChinese wall, nounchurning, nounCISCO, nounclawback, nounclean opinion, nounclearer, nounclearing agent, nounclosed-end, adjectiveclosely held, adjectiveCMA, CME, COGS, collection ratio, Comex, nouncomfort letter, commercial agent, common ownership, company doctor, company limited by guarantee, nouncompany limited by shares, nouncomparables, nouncomparable-store sales, compensate, verbcompensating error, completion date, compound, verbcompound annual rate of return, nouncompound interest, nouncomptroller, nounComptroller and Auditor General, nounComptroller General, nounComptroller of the Currency, nouncompulsory purchase order, concert party, nounconsistency concept, nounconsolidated accounts, consolidator, nounConsols, nouncontango, nouncontinuous inventory, contra account, contra-asset account, contract note, controller, nouncontrol period, conversion premium, cooling-off period, nounco-operative society, corporate investment, cost, verbcost of goods sold, nouncounting-house, nouncoupon sheet, nounCPA, nounCPI, cramdown, nouncredit, nouncredit, verbcredit card payment, credit facility, creditor turnover rate, nouncredit quality, credit repair, credit standing, credit status, creeping control, CREST, nouncurrency pair, nouncurrency peg, nounDaily Official List, nounday book, nounday order, dead cat bounce, death futures, debt capital, debt ratio, decliner, noundeed of conveyance, noundeferred credits, noundeferred income, deferred share, degearing, noundeleverage, noundelinquent tax certificate, delivery date, demand note, dematerialize, verbdemonetize, verbdemutualize, verbdenominated, adjectivedeposit certificate, depository institution, deposit protection fund, noundepreciable life, depreciation account, deprival value, derivative lease, direct exchange, direct investment, direct labour, directors register, discount brokerage, discount loan, discretionary account, discretionary order, discretionary spending, diversifieds, noundivestment, nounDJIA, dollar-cost averaging, noundollars-and-cents, adjectivedomestic investment, double declining balance, double-witching, noundown payment, noundowntick, nounDPS, drawdown, noundrawing account, dual capacity, noundual listing, due, adjectivedue diligence, earn, verbEasdaq, nouneconomic, adjectiveeffective rate, emissions unit, encash, verbequity, nounequity investment, ERM, nounerror of commission, nounerror of omission, nounerror of posting, nounerror of principle, nounethical investment, Euribor, nounEuro.NM, nounEuropean interbank offered rate, exceptionals, nounexchange arbitrage, exchange of contracts, nounex gratia, adjectiveexpense ratio, expiration date, face amount, factor cost, factoring, nounfailure, nounfair value, fand, nounFederal funds, fee absolute, nounfigure, nounfinal accounts, final distribution, finance charge, Financial Accounting Standards Board, nounfinancial investment, financials, nounfinancial services, financial supermarket, financial year, nounfinancier, nounfirst in, first out, nounfirst-quarter, adjectivefixed assets, nounfixed costs, nounfixed-income investment, fixed investment, fixtures and fittings, nounfloater, nounflood insurance, flowback, nounflow of funds, nounfocus list, foreign investment, freehold possession, free movement, nounfriends, nounfront-running, nounfull-year, adjectivefully-subscribed, adjectivefunder, nounfungible, adjectivefutures, nounfuture value, FY, G & A, gainer, noungilts, nounGinnie Mae, nounGLOBEX, nounGNMA, noungolden share, golds, noungood-faith money, government investment, greenshoe, noungross, adjectivegross income, gross investment, group accounts, grubstake, nounguaranty, nounhealth warning, nounhigh end, nounhigh flyer, nounhigh-yield, adjectiveHip, nounholding, nounholding company, nounholdout, nounhomeowner's insurance, home repair, household insurance, idle balance, imprest, nouninactive account, incentive fee, income and expenditure account, income share, incubator space, index-linked, adjectiveindirect exchange, industrials, nouninherit, verbinheritance, nouninjection, nounIN.SECTS, nouninstitutional investment, interest cover, International Monetary Fund, nounInternational Securities Exchange, nouninvest, verbinvestment, nouninvestment income, investor, nouninvestor resistance, issuance, nounissue flop, nounissuer, nounkerb market, key money, large-cap, nounlast in, first out, nounlast sale, leaseback, nounleasehold possession, ledger, nounledger clerk, legal investment, lending rate, nounletter of comfort, nounleverage, verblifecycle cost, LIFO, like-for-like, adjectiveliquidity, nounliquid ratio test, loading, nounloan-to-value ratio, London Clearing House, nounM & A, management charge, mandatory general offer, margin account, market order, material fact, nounmature, adjectivematurity, nounmid-cap, nounMMC, mortgage protection insurance, multiple (share) application, municipals, nounNational Market System, nounNational Savings Stock Register, nounNBV, net, adjectivenet, verbnet 10/eom, adverbnet 30, adverbnet annual value, net asset backing, net asset value, net book value, net income, net interest, net investment, net present value, net realizable value, nominal accounts, nominal price, nominal value, non-payment, nounnon-recurring, adjectivenote issuance facility, NPV, NTA, number-cruncher, nounOEIC, offer for sale, nounoff-market, adjectiveon demand, adverbopen interest, nounopen-market, adjectiveopen outcry, nounoperating income, option, nounoption premium, option pricing model, options contract, order-driven, adjectiveorigination, nounoutflow, nounoutturn, nounoutward investment, overallotment, nounoverborrow, verboverbought, adjectiveovercapitalized, adjectiveovergeared, adjectiveoverissue, nounoverlend, verboverseas investment, overtrade, verbowner-operator, nounP&L, packager, nounpaperchase, nounpar value, pass-through, nounpawn, verbpayables, nounpay and file, nounpaying agent, payout ratio, PDR, pension fund, nounpension plan, nounPE ratio, performance guarantee, permission to build, nounpersonal investment, petrodollars, nounPink Sheets, nounplanning application, plat book, pledgee, nounplot plan, pooling of interests, nounpork bellies, nounportfolio, nounpoundage, nounppd., prelease, verbpremium bond, nounpresale, nounprice-sensitive, adjectiveprimary share, prime-1, nounprime tenant, principal, nounprivate company, private income, nounprivate investment, privately-owned, adjectiveprivate placing, proceeds, nounprofit-taking, nounpro-forma, adjectivepro-forma invoice, prompt date, prompt note, property, nounproperty investment, pro rata, adjectiveprorate, verbpublic investment, publicly-held, adjectivepurchase journal, nounpurchases account, purse, nounp.w., quote-driven, adjectiveramping, nounrandom walk, nounratable, adjectiverateable value, rate of return, nounrating agency, real, adjectivereal accounts, real estate investment, realization concept, nounrebound, verbreceiver, nounreceivership, nounrecoup, verbrecuperate, verbred ink, nounredlining, nounrefunding, nounRegional Stock Exchange, nounregistered stock, REIT, nounremarket, verbREMIC, nounremit, verbremittance, nounrent, verbrental, nounrent-free, adjectiverepatriate, verbrepurchase agreement, research manager, reserve requirement, reserves, nounresidual value, resource, verbresults, nounretainer, nounretirement plan, nounreturn, verbreturn, nounrevenue, nounreverse share split, risk analysis, nounrisk profile, ROA, root of title, royalty payment, ruin, verbsale and repurchase agreement, sales account, sales budget, sales charge, sales returns account, salvage value, nounsame-store sales, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, nounsaving, nounSavings and Loan Association, nounSEATS, nounsecondary shares, second-tier share, securities house, security rating, self-dealing, nounself-liquidating, adjectiveSETS, nounsettlement date, settling day, nounshare application, share exchange offer, share manipulation, share split, shark repellent, nounshelf registration, Ship, nounshort-covering, nounshort-term gain, sinking fund, nounsiphon, verbsliding peg, nounsmall-cap, nounSOX, nounspeculate, verbspeculation, nounspeculative, adjectivespeculative investment, squeeze, verbstk., stockbrokerage, nounstock count, nounstockholding, nounstock parking, nounstock valuation, stop order, straight line, adjectivestructural analysis, sublet, verbsubsidize, verbsubsidy, nounsubvention, nounsum of the digits, nounsundries account, super voting rights, sustainability index, swaption, nounsystematic risk, technical analysis, technical analyst, technical correction, technicals, nountenant at sufferance, nountenant at will, nountenant for years, nountenant in common, nounterm, nountippee, nountipper, nountip sheets, nountotal, verbtrading loss, trading profit, transfer, verbtransfer agent, transfer register, trigger point, triple-A, adjectivetriple-witching, nountrue and fair view, nountrust, nountrust company, trustee, nountrusteeship, nountrust fund, nounturnover ratio, undercapitalized, adjectiveundercharge, verbunderfunded, adjectiveunder-investment, noununderreport, verbundervalued, verbunderwriting power, unearned income, ungeared, adjectiveunitize, verbunit of account, noununsystematic risk, upfront fee, uptick, nounvault cash, vendor placing, Wall Street, war chest, nounweak, adjectiveworking capital, nounwrite-off, nounwritten-down value, yield spread, yield to call, nounyield to maturity, nounYTD, YTM, zaitech, nounZ-score, noun Collocations COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYADJECTIVES/NOUN + figure► high/low · The figures are worryingly high. ► sales figures · We exceeded our target sales figures. ► unemployment figures · There have been changes in the way the unemployment figures are calculated. ► trade figures (=showing the value of a country's exports compared to imports)· Trade figures showed a slump last month. ► government figures (=figures produced by the government)· Government figures suggest a moderate recovery in consumer spending. ► official figures · According to official figures, two million houses in England are inadequately heated. ► the latest figures · The latest figures show that crimes are down by 0.2 percent. ► the exact figure · The government was unable to give the exact figure for the number of foreign workers in the country. ► an approximate/rough figure · He gave us an approximate figure for the cost of the repairs. ► a ballpark figure informal (=one that is not exact)· Can you give me a ballpark figure of the likely price? verbs► reach double/six etc figures (=be 10 or more/100,000 or more etc)· The death toll in the region has reached five figures. ► add up the figures · I must have made a mistake when I added up the figures. ► release the figures (=make them public)· The company will release the sales figures later this week. phrases► in single figures (=less than 10)· Women heads of department are in single figures. ► in double figures (=between 10 and 99)· Only two of the group had scores in double figures. ► in round figures (=to the nearest 10, 20, 100 etc)· In round figures, about 20 million people emigrated from Europe during that period. ► according to the figures · According to official figures, exam results have improved again this year. ► a four/five/six etc figure number (=a number in the thousands/ten thousands/hundred thousands etc)· Choose a four figure number that you can easily remember. COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► attendance figures  Last year’s fair saw attendance figures of 32,000. ► an authority figure (=someone, such as a parent or teacher, who has the power to tell young people what they can do)· The teacher is an authority figure, like the parent. ► boyish figure  At 45, she still had a trim boyish figure. ► a central figure (=an important person with a lot of influence)· During this time he was a central figure in American politics. ► collate information/results/data/figures  A computer system is used to collate information from across Britain. ► colourful character/figure (=someone who is interesting and unusual) ► comparable figures/data/results  comparable figures for the same period of time last year ► a controversial figure (=a person who does controversial things)· He is a controversial figure in politics. ► crime figures/statistics · The new crime figures are not good. ► approach/reach/go into etc double figures  The death toll is thought to have reached double figures. ► the exact amount/number/figure · I don’t know the exact amount, but it was a lot. ► export sales/figures (=the total number of products that are sold to other countries)· Export sales exceeded 50% of the company’s total turnover.· Hong Kong is a major trading power, with annual export figures rivalling those of Germany. ► forlorn figure  a forlorn figure sitting all by herself ► full figure/face/breasts etc  clothes for the fuller figure ► a hate figure (=someone who is hated by a lot of people)· After the incident, he became a hate figure in the British press. ► heroic figure  She portrayed him as a heroic figure. ► body-/figure-hugging  a figure-hugging dress ► the inflation figures · April's inflation figures are likely to show a further fall. ► a key figure (=a key person)· She was a key figure in the election campaign. ► lone figure  A lone figure was standing at the bus stop. ► massaging ... figures  Myers accused the government of deliberately massaging the unemployment figures. ► prostrate body/figure/form ► public figure  Although not a public figure (=famous person), he was a man of great influence. ► a realistic figure/price · A more realistic figure for energy saving would be 20 percent. ► in round figures (=expressed as the nearest 10, 100, 1,000 etc) Altogether, in round figures, there are about three thousand students here. ► a six-figure salary (=one over £100,000 or $100,000)· He’s now a top executive with a six-figure salary. ► sales figures · The company said its sales figures continued to show growth. ► seasonally adjusted figures/rates/data etc (=ones that are changed according to what usually happens at a particular time of year) ► shadowy figures  the shadowy figures who control international terrorist organizations ► run into six figures  The final cost of the project will easily run into six figures (=be over £100,000 or $100,000). ► slender figure  Laura’s tall, slender figure ► a five-figure/six-figure/seven-figure etc sum (=an amount in the ten thousands, hundred thousands etc)· The newspaper paid a six-figure sum for the photograph of the princess. ► a target figure · The government has set a target figure of 6.2% ► trim figure  a trim figure ► unemployment figures/statistics · They publish monthly unemployment figures for the UK. ► up-to-date information/data/figures/news etc  They have access to up-to-date information through a computer database. COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► central · Like the east, this gable is symmetrically composed round a central still figure, but the construction is otherwise extremely different.· A stele from Beaune museum shows him as the three-headed central figure of a triad of naked seated gods.· First, you should get it clear in your mind just what the private-eye who is the central figure is.· Ann Black, the central figure in State and Main, is, however, classic Mamet.· The King was a central figure in the ritual of the church.· In this long, hard pull, I was now cast as the central figure.· What about a central figure in the case, the plaintiff, David Irving?· He was too good at games for that, too central a figure among us to retreat into himself. ► comparable · The comparable figure for white households was 45 percent, and for non-immigrant black households, 39 percent.· Because of changes in coverage, comparable figures are not available for 1981.· The comparable figure, it said, for optical fibres was nearly £2000.· The comparable United Kingdom figure for this period was 34 percent.· The closest comparable figure for Wirral is the annual prevalence rate for the 16-34-year-old age group: 12 per 1,000.· The comparable figure for expenditure in 1979-80 was £2.4 million.· The comparable figure in 1979 was 2,750.· The comparable figure for September 1988 was 397,000. ► double · Inflation was often in double figures.· Twenty-one times in the last 21 games he has scored in double figures.· It went into double figures on the first page.· Johnson had not scored in double figures in the first five games.· The young could number anything from two to well into double figures.· In the nine games since, he has scored in double figures seven times.· The big three's domination is such that their nearest rivals Limerick don't even make it into double figures.· Before a morose crowd limply reaching double figures battle commenced at three o'clock. ► exact · Immediately contracts have been exchanged the exact redemption figure should be obtained from the mortgagee.· No exact figure on how much revenue this generates could be obtained from state tax officials.· Clients are apt to minimise numbers of assignments, whilst headhunters maximise them, and neither are willing to divulge exact figures.· State biologists estimate its statewide population at 4, 000 to 6, 000, but exact figures are not known.· I he exact commission figure is a matter for negotiation between the artist's manager and the agent.· The exact figure remains undisclosed, but will be the same as Mr Leigh-Pemberton's pay over the past year.· But for the writers and early translators of the Gospels, it was a very precise term, denoting a very exact figure.· Rounding up from 0.3871, the more exact figure, to 0.39 gave Craig an unearned bonus of I 1.07 votes. ► high · As the angry voices rose higher and higher other black-gowned figures came in.· In 1978 dollars this high figure becomes $ 5 million.· Both types of survey show a far higher figure for crimes committed than do the official statistics produced by the police.· The higher figures came for such easy-to-call labels as bulimia and alcohol and drug dependence.· In absolute levels, we have fallen off only from the historically high 1980 figures.· An officer in the Pskov division did not deny the higher figures.· The higher figure kicks in if growth reaches 17. 5 percent annually. ► key · Kernaghan has been Boro's most consistent defender and a key figure in the Second Division promotion drive.· The ruling brings together key figures in two other notorious Los Angeles criminal cases.· Lucia Walker is one of the key figures in the development of contact improvisation in this country.· Winter had wanted to introduce a budgetary control system based on monthly management accounts with the emphasis on key figures.· He is alleged to have been a key figure in virtually all aspects of the Guinness affair.· The key figure here is the number of seeks per access.· Beanpole striker Andy Smith has emerged as one of the key figures in the Diamonds' recent revival. ► leading · What were the attitudes of the two leading figures?· In January, too, the leading figures of the Conservative party met at Selsdon in order to hammer out new policies.· Other leading figures in the party are also unlikely class warriors.· Both seem sure to be leading figures again.· A leading figure in the Arab world, sure that the Third World should not align itself with either superpower.· He edited the school magazine and was a leading figure on the school's workers' council. ► low · They do not tell us why the level is set at its current average rather than some much higher or lower figure.· We have calculated the West Palm Beach rate at a lower figure: $ 26. 75 a square foot.· The slightly lower figure may relate to the more discursive nature of the subject.· That might boost the take up into the low six figures.· Leland's insistence on excellence meant production slowed to 400 cars per month - far too low a figure to be profitable.· The 1990 appraisal at the lower figure reflected the sharp downturn of the Phoenix real-estate market.· This equals the comparative cost and again the lowest figure represents the best value.· Oil companies yesterday declared a gasoline price war, which should be reflected in lower inflation figures in future months. ► official · The official figure for the whole of June was 42 police and demonstrators killed; some foreign observers estimated up to 70 deaths.· In April the notoriously unreliable official figure for the state's unemployment rate dropped for the second month running - to 8.6%.· Campaigners say official accident figures don't give the true picture.· According to the official figures, in 1984, 1 million women were registered unemployed, compared with 2.3 million men.· Thirdly, even within a particular denomination, the official figures may not be strictly comparable over time.· Latest official figures show that shoppers are even turning to credit again, to buy presents and stock up for Christmas.· The latest official figures show a big rise in the amount of money in the economy.· And that's official according to recent figures from the National Health Survey. ► political · Outside the Cabinet the rejected Mr Heath became an even more isolated political figure.· The political figure who has tried the hardest to harness this newfound enthusiasm is Pat Robertson.· How could a Prime Minister who gave voice to such sentiments be regarded as a political figure in his own right?· Never in recent history has there been a political figure as vexing within his own party as President Clinton.· His legal responsibilities for issues such as extradition have also brought him into contact with senior legal and political figures in Ireland.· He is arguably the third most powerful political figure in the state, after Gov.· Owen had an international reputation and close connections with political figures, but even he was subordinate to the principal librarian.· Until relatively recently, organized religion has left environmental protection to environmental activists, concerned scientists and political figures. ► public · This was a tumultuous time, when many public figures came under political scrutiny.· The Gingrich investigation is hardly the first time Cole has taken on highly placed public figures.· Peter Allis has turned golf into a kind of harmless interview where public figures hit a few shots and chat about themselves.· None of what has been said suggests that we should ignore ethical lapses or law-breaking by public figures.· Point out that this is an extremely undemocratic and élitist attitude, particularly if it comes from public figures.· The monarchists and conservatives claimed that all national and public figures and their acts should always be subject to scrutiny and criticism.· Morrissey deliberately used his high profile to construct a public figure of some importance. ► senior · The Government refuses to hold a national poll despite pressure from its own backbenchers and senior party figures.· The check-in clerk fell into a deep discussion with a nearby senior figure.· Their membership included key ministers, the President of the Assembly, Tudjman's personal advisers and senior military figures.· However, senior government figures say that Mr Mandelson's handling of the issue has damaged their faith in his political judgment.· Many of its senior figures are his former employees and friends.· There were also senior figures from the World Bank, the United Nations and other international organisations.· Both Mercedes and Auto Union sent senior figures to the London funeral and the flowers started to arrive. ► shadowy · And then, for some reason, she thought of Miranda and the shadowy figure of Terence Patch.· The best Rather could do was enthuse about shadowy figures in crowds who might or might not be somebody guilty of something.· In all these transactions Balbinder seemed a shadowy figure.· Following a brief but noisy scuffle, the window banged open and a shadowy figure burst through.· To the right, open double doors hinted at shadowy figures.· The veteran police officer had spotted a shadowy figure on the second floor of the complex.· As his consciousness slipped away from him, he was aware of a shadowy figure appearing from the mist and standing over him.· She sat down, then looked up to see the shadowy figure of the woman at the bar standing over her. ► single · But there are seven male to every one female tenured academic psychologist, and women heads of department are in single figures.· Amid the not of splashing kids and teachers' voices, she and the child made a single still figure.· Then, just before dusk a single figure was spotted again moving out of sight on the small col below the second pinnacle.· It is wise not to talk about a single figure; discuss a range of figures.· The Sergeant's torch played on a single figure ten yards away.· By this, presumably, was meant the isolation of single figures in sequential positions like a Muybridge series in three dimensions.· The birds are mostly static, and still shown in profile - a single figure on each page with no background.· The two figures are a single figure. ► tall · The tall lanky figure of Billy Tolboys was slouched in the comer seat by the fire.· A tall figure appeared in the canyon gloom; it had an enormous head.· You barricaded your door against its tall figure.· A tall figure came into view, then just as quickly vanished.· A tall, dark figure in the shadows, leaning against the bole.· Away below, a tall figure moved slowly through the trees of the demesne.· Theo saw an exceptionally tall figure.· Glancing in, he saw a tall, flustered figure turning away in disgust from the counter. NOUN► authority · It would seem that we are far more likely to obey unquestioningly when the authority figure is actually present.· Disrespect the authority figure out there on the field and then wonder why the kids do it in their classrooms.· The more status you give to a large number of authority figures, the more, relatively, you diminish your own.· Has difficulty taking directions from authority figures? 4.· As we get older, we may be abused by other authority figures - teachers, doctors, bosses.· One wonders what is the unspoken view of the other authority figures involved in setting this up?· Tour operators have been licensed to sell 14.3 million holidays in the coming year, Civil Aviation Authority figures reveal.· It was their word against a powerful authority figure, and they thought no one would believe them. ► father · Morrissey and Marr looked down like father figures.· His surrogate father figure was killed.· He spoke seldom, but he was never impatient with her, always kind, a companionable father figure.· And one of the sturdiest of these is the father figure in the sky.· And he registers genuine hurt at the fact that Buzzy regards Buck as more of a father figure than himself.· With Diana out of the picture, Charles is emerging as a fitting father figure.· Sondheim found a mentor, if not a father figure, in Hammerstein, Patinkin said. ► trade · Sydney fell by 2.4% after the release of worse-than-expected trade figures for March.· Yesterday's trade figures showed clearly that export volumes were at record levels even in a worldwide economic downturn.· United States trade figures for the second quarter of 1971 showed a deficit for the first time.· Yesterday sterling enjoyed its first quiet day since the trade figures were released a week ago.· Wall Street ignored January's poor trade figures, rising 2.4%.· Get as many as you can for the trade figures.· September trade figures, due on 24 October, are thought critical for sterling's fortunes.· Pound sags as fears grow on October trade figures. ► unemployment · The monthly publication of the unemployment figures provides a depressing barometer of the dole queue.· But the long recession, together with high unemployment figures and a stagnant housing market, has changed homeowners' perceptions.· In 1979, he said, the incoming government had felt the unemployment figures were too high.· Nationwide, unemployment figures went up by 41,000, making the total 2,908,900 million.· That tightening-up process is still going on, and is likely to dampen the rise in the unemployment figures.· Mr. Kinnock For 2.6 million of our fellow citizens the unemployment figures are not disappointing - they are absolutely devastating.· What effect would that policy have on the unemployment figures? VERB► show · The table is now sorted in descending order according to the Amount field, as shown in figure 11. 5.· In Figure 2.7 two alternative average cost curves are shown.· The type of neuron found in the retina is shown in figure 4. 2 as an example.· An example of this option is shown in figure 11.13.· Module Header A description follows of a typical module header, as shown in figure 2.1. Phrases PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► put a figure on it/give an exact figure► a fine figure of a man/woman Vellios was a fine figure of a man. ► a figure of fun It's always sad when a figure of fun, an easy target for a laugh, disappears into oblivion. It was not a figure of fun. Seems my figure is a Figure of Fun ... To everyone but me. ► father/mother/authority figure A young girl needs a strong mother figure. And he registers genuine hurt at the fact that Buzzy regards Buck as more of a father figure than himself. As we get older, we may be abused by other authority figures - teachers, doctors, bosses. Disrespect the authority figure out there on the field and then wonder why the kids do it in their classrooms. Eventually Daley made the remarkable transition from political boss to father figure. He spoke seldom, but he was never impatient with her, always kind, a companionable father figure. It would seem that we are far more likely to obey unquestioningly when the authority figure is actually present. One wonders what is the unspoken view of the other authority figures involved in setting this up? ► figuresPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► authority figure As we get older, we may be abused by other authority figures - teachers, doctors, bosses. Disrespect the authority figure out there on the field and then wonder why the kids do it in their classrooms. From the beginning Jones worked to destroy his followers' confidence in any of the old authority figures in their lives. Has difficulty taking directions from authority figures? 4. It was their word against a powerful authority figure, and they thought no one would believe them. It would seem that we are far more likely to obey unquestioningly when the authority figure is actually present. One wonders what is the unspoken view of the other authority figures involved in setting this up? The more status you give to a large number of authority figures, the more, relatively, you diminish your own. ► a ball-park figure/estimate/amount► comparative figures/data Comparative figures Prior year comparative figures have been restated to conform to the current year's presentation where appropriate. I do not want the comparative figures to be distorted. Inspection of the comparative figures is both instructive and startling. Significance levels for comparative data were determined by the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The comparative figures for 1991 were 25 and 19 respectively. The comparative figures one year later of 14% and 10.9% are still worrying. The most reliable of these comparative data measure voting in national elections. Whichever option societies take, comparative figures for the new disclosures will be required. ► cult film/band/figure etc Brad Pitt in the cult film Fight Club was a fraudulent soap salesman. He became a cult figure in which notions of salvation by innocent suffering have a place. He is loved to the point of becoming a cult figure. He often introduces himself to boomer types as the B-string lyricist for that perennial underground cult band, the Grateful Dead. Healing spas were based on a local cult figure and the devotees underwent rituals which included bathing and communal eating. I start by telling him that he's quite the cult figure here in Annapolis, and he looks stunned. This, however, did not prevent him from becoming a cult figure among some of the Jacobins and other revolutionaries. Vanessa Nygaard is a cult figure waiting to happen, a gale-force personality blowing through Maples Pavilion. ► cut a fine/strange etc figure► facts and figures The report contained some interesting facts and figures about the Saturn Corporation. He doesn't need to remember facts and figures, he actually sees the things and people of his cover-story life. He is notoriously tough on staff, often challenging them on facts and figures during council meetings. He learned how to boom out facts and figures to the city council members that they were unable to refute. It is not easy to make sense of the maze of facts and figures concerning the settlements. Most of the ones I run into need facts and figures. Stripped to their essentials his facts and figures are astonishing. These facts and figures added relatively little to what was already known in outline. When she left I quickly immersed myself in the safer, less emotional facts and figures of a real estate deal. ► a fine figure of a man/woman► have a (good) head for figures/facts/business etc► hourglass figure Instead of having an hourglass figure, whose curves suggested motherhood and domesticity, she was boyishly slim. ► matchstick men/figures More like troubled at mill Salford says there's more to its patron saint than pictures of matchstick men. ► an outside figure/estimate etc► six figures/digits But that must mean that the estate might run well into six figures. Each new compound synthesised was simply given a number, sometimes up to six figures long. Here are guys making six figures. Landsness obtained a settlement that he said exceeded six figures. Minutes later, a small group of six figures emerged from the woods. Movie rights have been sold, and Vintage Books just paid six figures to publish the paperback. That might boost the take up into the low six figures. The five-year deal is estimated at six figures. ► sympathetic figure/character But now he, or she, needs to be an even broader, more sympathetic figure than before. Charles didn't find many sympathetic characters among the cast. The reader zooms through the story hoping for a resolution that will satisfy the mystery without sacrificing any of the sympathetic characters. 1number a)[usually plural] a number representing an amount, especially an official numberunemployment/sales/trade figures Ohio’s unemployment figures for December Government figures underestimate the problem. It’s about 30,000 in round figures (=to the nearest 10, 20, 100 etc). b)a number from 0 to 9, written as a character rather than a word:  the figure ‘2’ executives with salaries in six figures (=more than £99,999)a four/five/six figure number (=a number in the thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands etc) → double figures, single figures2amount of money a particular amount of moneyfigure of an estimated figure of $200 million3person a)someone who is important or famous in some waya leading/key/central figure Several leading figures resigned from the party. the outstanding political figure of his time b)someone with a particular type of appearance or character, especially when they are far away or difficult to see:  a tall figure in a hat Through the window I could see the commanding figure of Mrs Bradshaw. → cult figure at cult24woman’s body the shape of a woman’s body:  She has a good figure.keep/lose your figure (=stay thin or become fat) Most women have to watch their figure (=be careful not to get fat).5father/mother/authority figure someone who is considered to be like a father etc, or to represent authority, because of their character or behaviour6 figures [plural] British English the activity of adding, multiplying etc numbers SYN  arithmetic:  a natural ability with figureshave a head for figures (=be good at arithmetic)7mathematical shape a geometric shape:  A hexagon is a six-sided figure.8painting/model a person in a painting or a model of a person:  the figure in the background → figurine9drawing (written abbreviation fig.) a numbered drawing or a diagram in a book10put a figure on it/give an exact figure to say exactly how much something is worth, or how much or how many of something you are talking about:  It’s worth a lot but I couldn’t put a figure on it.11a fine figure of a man/woman someone who is tall and has a good body12a figure of fun someone who people laugh at13on ice a pattern or movement in figure skatingCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + figurehigh/low· The figures are worryingly high.sales figures· We exceeded our target sales figures.unemployment figures· There have been changes in the way the unemployment figures are calculated.trade figures (=showing the value of a country's exports compared to imports)· Trade figures showed a slump last month.government figures (=figures produced by the government)· Government figures suggest a moderate recovery in consumer spending.official figures· According to official figures, two million houses in England are inadequately heated.the latest figures· The latest figures show that crimes are down by 0.2 percent.the exact figure· The government was unable to give the exact figure for the number of foreign workers in the country.an approximate/rough figure· He gave us an approximate figure for the cost of the repairs.a ballpark figure informal (=one that is not exact)· Can you give me a ballpark figure of the likely price?verbsreach double/six etc figures (=be 10 or more/100,000 or more etc)· The death toll in the region has reached five figures.add up the figures· I must have made a mistake when I added up the figures.release the figures (=make them public)· The company will release the sales figures later this week.phrasesin single figures (=less than 10)· Women heads of department are in single figures.in double figures (=between 10 and 99)· Only two of the group had scores in double figures.in round figures (=to the nearest 10, 20, 100 etc)· In round figures, about 20 million people emigrated from Europe during that period.according to the figures· According to official figures, exam results have improved again this year.a four/five/six etc figure number (=a number in the thousands/ten thousands/hundred thousands etc)· Choose a four figure number that you can easily remember. figure1 nounfigure2 verb figurefigure2 ●●● S1 W3 verb Verb Table VERB TABLE figure Simple Form Present I, you, we, they figure he, she, it figures Past I, you, he, she, it, we, they figured Present perfect I, you, we, they have figured he, she, it has figured Past perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they had figured Future I, you, he, she, it, we, they will figure Future perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they will have figured Continuous Form Present I am figuring he, she, it is figuring you, we, they are figuring Past I, he, she, it was figuring you, we, they were figuring Present perfect I, you, we, they have been figuring he, she, it has been figuring Past perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they had been figuring Future I, you, he, she, it, we, they will be figuring Future perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they will have been figuring Examples EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES He needs to sit down and figure out how many people are coming. I'm telling you because I figure you're the only one who can keep a secret. Lott figured prominently in the Chiefs' win last night. The operation went fine, and they figure he'll be home next week. There has been criticism about the current method for figuring social security retirement benefits. What do you figure his chances of winning are? EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS Destiny will figure further down Olivetti's range, on personal computers and the M700. I figured we had as much right to vote for old crooks as new ones. She was younger and prettier than any of us' d figured on. So they're up there in the cashiers' office trying to figure out where all the money's coming from. The dwarfs were devastated, because they could not figure out how to save Snow White this time. The Reichmanns figured that if New York went out of business the world would go with it. We had their offense and defense figured out exceptionally well. You haven't figured it out yet? Thesaurus Longman Language Activatorto calculate an amount or price► calculate to find out how much something will cost, how long something will take etc by using numbers: · Their accountant calculated the total cost of the project.calculate how much/how many/how far etc: · I began calculating how long it would take to get to the airport if I left at 4:00.calculate that: · Sally calculated that she needed $300 to pay all her bills. ► work out also figure out American especially spoken to calculate an answer, amount, price, or value: work/figure out something: · I always use a calculator to work out percentages.· Has anyone been able to figure out the answer to number seven?work/figure something out: · "How much do I owe you?" "I haven't worked it out yet."work out how much/how many/how far etc: · We need to work out how much food we'll need to take with us.· I spent all of last night trying to figure out how much this wedding is going to cost me. ► make British informal to calculate a particular total: make it 250/20 kilos/$50 etc: · "How much do I owe you for the meal?'' "I make it $10.50.''· Will you count these figures again? I make the total 248, but Chris made it 249. ► figure American to calculate an amount: · He needs to sit down and figure out how many people are coming.· There has been criticism about the current method for figuring social security retirement benefits. ► estimate to guess an amount, price, or number as exactly as you can: · Analysts estimate the business earned about $135 million last year.estimate that: · The police department estimates that the number of violent crimes will increase this year by about 15%.estimate something to be something: · At that point, the public sector deficit was estimated to be around £45 billion.estimate something at something: · Industry sources estimate the value of the ranch at $7 million.estimate how much/how many/how far etc: · Our staff will help you estimate how much fabric you will require. ► assess to calculate what the value or cost of something is, especially before buying it or selling it: · This computer program will assess how much is spent on each student within the school.· I took the ring to a jeweller to have its value assessed.assess something at something: · The total value of the paintings is assessed at $20 million. to do something because you expect something to happen► figure on/reckon on especially spoken to expect something to happen, so that you make plans or take actions that depend on it happening: · We had expected it to take about an hour to get home, but we hadn't reckoned on the traffic.reckon/figure on doing something: · Visitors to the city should figure on spending about $150 a day for food and lodging.reckon/figure on somebody doing something: · We can reckon on about 100 people coming to the meeting. ► count on to expect something so much that your plans depend on it happening or you are completely prepared for it when it happens: · We're counting on good weather for the picnic - if it rains, we'll have to cancel.count on doing something: · The automaker is planning on earning large profits with this new model.count on somebody doing something: · Don't count on Congress passing the bill anytime soon. ► in expectation/anticipation of especially written if you make plans or take actions in expectation or anticipation of something happening, you do this because you expect it to happen and you want to be prepared: · The workers have called off their strike in expectation of a pay settlement.· Residents are buying supplies and stacking wood in anticipation of the coming storms. ► don't count your chickens (before they're hatched) use this to tell someone not to be too sure that what they are hoping for will happen: · If you want to go on a date sometime, you can ask me. But don't count your chickens.· Getting an Oscar would be wonderful, but I think it's too early to count my chickens. to have an important part in something► play a leading part/role to be important in making important changes or achieving an important success: · The Church has played a leading role in the struggle for human rights.· Von Braun played a leading part in the development of space flights. ► figure prominently in/be prominent in to be important in a process, event, or situation, especially by working very hard to achieve something: · The British Prime Minister figured prominently in the peace talks.· The campaign, in which many celebrities figured prominently, was a great success.· She will be remembered as someone who was always prominent in the anti-apartheid movement. ► be the driving force to be the most important person in changing or developing something because you have so much energy and determination: · James is the senior partner in the firm, but it is Peter who is the driving force.be the driving force behind: · Carlsson has been the driving force behind the bank's ambitious expansion plans. ► be instrumental in to be important in making something possible, especially because of the things you do to achieve it: · Mary had been instrumental in securing my release from jail.· Women's organizations have been instrumental in promoting women's rights. to find the answer or explanation to something► solve to find the explanation to something that is difficult to understand, for example a crime or a mystery: · The role of the press is to sell newspapers, not to solve crime.· At last astronomers have solved the mystery of the rings encircling the planet Saturn.· These games encourage children's ability to solve puzzles using their mathematical skills. ► figure out/work out to find the explanation for something that is difficult to understand, by thinking carefully about it and using the information available to you: figure out/work out how/why/what etc: · My husband bought me a knitting machine for Christmas but I still haven't figured out how it works.· From the evidence gathered from witnesses we should be able to work out what happened that night.figure/work out something: · The police haven't even managed to figure out a motive.figure/work something out: · Don't tell him the answer - let him work it out for himself. ► find an explanation to find a way of explaining something, especially after trying for a fairly long time: · Sheena has had these stomach pains before, but the doctors think they have found an explanation this time.find an explanation for: · No one has been able to find a rational explanation for the ship's sudden disappearance. ► clear up to find the whole explanation for something that is strange and difficult to understand, so that it is completely solved: clear up something: · I was hoping that your research would clear up a question that has been bothering me.clear something up: · Can you clear something up for us? How old are you?· The Dreyfus case was never completely cleared up. It remains a mystery. ► crack informal to find the explanation for something such as a crime or something that is difficult to understand, especially after trying for a long time: · It's a tough case but I'm determined to crack it.· Give Tom a mathematical puzzle and he'll just keep on trying till he cracks it. ► unravel to gradually find the explanation for something that is difficult to understand because it is very complicated: · We are only just beginning to unravel the mysteries of the human brain.· Can scientists unravel the complex interactions of chemicals within foods? to have a particular opinion► think : think (that) · We didn't think that the concert was very good.· She thinks I'm crazy to leave my job.· I thought we had a good meeting yesterday.what do you think of somebody/something (=what is your opinion about them?) · What did you think of the new car? Did you drive it? ► believe to have an opinion that you are sure is right, especially about something important such as life, religion, or politics: believe (that): · The party believes strongly that health care should be provided for everyone.· We believe human rights are more important than economic considerations. ► feel to have a strong opinion, but one which is based on your feelings rather than on facts: feel (that): · Liz's parents feel she isn't old enough to leave home.· I feel that we're just beginning to make progress, and that it would be wrong to stop now. ► figure especially American, informal to develop a particular opinion about a situation after considering it carefully: · What do you figure his chances of winning are?figure (that): · The operation went fine, and they figure he'll be home next week.· I'm telling you because I figure you're the only one who can keep a secret. ► reckon especially British, informal to have a particular opinion about something or someone: · What do you reckon - would this make a good present for Donald's birthday?reckon (that): · They reckon the French team's better than ours.be reckoned to be something: · This hotel is reckoned to be one of the best in the country. ► consider formal to have an opinion about someone or something after thinking carefully about them: consider somebody/something something: · We do not consider this film suitable for young children.· I would consider it an honour to serve on the Executive Committee.consider somebody/something to be something: · She is considered to be one of the finest pianists of her generation. ► regard/see to think that someone or something is a particular kind of person or thing: regard somebody/something as something: · She regards herself more as an entertainer than a singer.· America was seen as the land of opportunity.· Several members of the government have said they regard the Minister's statement as ridiculous. ► think of somebody/something as/look on somebody/something as to think that someone or something is a particular kind of person or thing, especially when your opinion is wrong, unusual, or unfair: · Most people think of Leonardo da Vinci as a great artist, but he was also a great scientist.· Learning a language should be thought of as a natural process.· Even doctors may look on these patients as drug addicts and treat them as social outcasts. ► take the view that/be of the opinion that to decide to have a particular opinion about a situation or about life in general, especially when other people have different opinions - use this in formal or written contexts: · Nineteenth century scientists took the view that the Universe was meaningless.· Aristotle was of the opinion that there would always be rich and poor within society.· The committee is of the opinion that the contract is not legally binding. ► be recognized/acknowledged as to be thought of as being important or very good by a large number of people: · Von Braun was then acknowledged as the world's foremost expert on rocket engineering.· Lawrence's novel was rejected at first, but it later came to be recognized as a work of genius. to begin to understand something► begin to understand to slowly begin to understand a situation or someone's feelings, because you get more information or because you experience something for yourself: · I think it will be a long time before we even begin to understand how damaging the effect has been.· Patients are given written information and videos so that they can begin to understand more about their condition.begin to understand that: · I was beginning to understand that being alone could be terribly depressing.begin to understand why/how/what etc: · As we walked up the narrow staircases, we began to understand why the Dutch haul their furniture up the outside of the buildings and through the windows. ► catch on informal to begin to understand something that is not easy to understand: · Thomas isn't catching on as quickly as some of the other children.catch on to: · It took Jennifer a long time to catch on to the fact that Mary was taking advantage of her.catch on fast/quickly: · She catches on fast and will soon be promoted. ► get it spoken to finally understand something, especially after it has been explained to you several times: · Okay, I get it. You only get paid if you sell at least ten copies.· "So the plant takes in carbon dioxide and gives out oxygen." "That's it. You've got it." ► figure/work out to think about something until you understand it, especially something complicated: · Horgan thought he had it all figured out, but he hadn't.figure/work something out: · In case you haven't figured it out yet, we've been tricked.figure/work out how/why/what etc: · Detectives are still trying to work out what happened. ► twig British informal to begin to understand a situation by what you see and hear around you, and not by being told directly: · Oh, I get it, I've twigged at last. How much do you want?twig that: · At last I twigged that I was pregnanttwig why/where/what etc: · It took him about two minutes to twig what I was going on about! ► cotton on informal to begin to understand a situation by what you see and hear around you, and not by being told directly: cotton on to: · It took him a while to cotton on to what was happening.· Large stores have at last cottoned on to the fact that mothers with pushchairs can't cope with stairs. ► click if something clicks , especially something you are learning, you suddenly begin to understand it: · Just keep working at it, and suddenly it will all click. ► fall into place if several facts fall into place , you begin to understand how they are connected and why each one is important, so that you understand a whole situation or subject: · Once the police received this new evidence, things began falling into place. Collocations COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► figured prominently  Social issues figured prominently in the talks. ► figures high  Reform now figures high on the agenda. ► It figures that  It figures that she’d be mad at you, after what you did. COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► attendance figures  Last year’s fair saw attendance figures of 32,000. ► an authority figure (=someone, such as a parent or teacher, who has the power to tell young people what they can do)· The teacher is an authority figure, like the parent. ► boyish figure  At 45, she still had a trim boyish figure. ► a central figure (=an important person with a lot of influence)· During this time he was a central figure in American politics. ► collate information/results/data/figures  A computer system is used to collate information from across Britain. ► colourful character/figure (=someone who is interesting and unusual) ► comparable figures/data/results  comparable figures for the same period of time last year ► a controversial figure (=a person who does controversial things)· He is a controversial figure in politics. ► crime figures/statistics · The new crime figures are not good. ► approach/reach/go into etc double figures  The death toll is thought to have reached double figures. ► the exact amount/number/figure · I don’t know the exact amount, but it was a lot. ► export sales/figures (=the total number of products that are sold to other countries)· Export sales exceeded 50% of the company’s total turnover.· Hong Kong is a major trading power, with annual export figures rivalling those of Germany. ► forlorn figure  a forlorn figure sitting all by herself ► full figure/face/breasts etc  clothes for the fuller figure ► a hate figure (=someone who is hated by a lot of people)· After the incident, he became a hate figure in the British press. ► heroic figure  She portrayed him as a heroic figure. ► body-/figure-hugging  a figure-hugging dress ► the inflation figures · April's inflation figures are likely to show a further fall. ► a key figure (=a key person)· She was a key figure in the election campaign. ► lone figure  A lone figure was standing at the bus stop. ► massaging ... figures  Myers accused the government of deliberately massaging the unemployment figures. ► prostrate body/figure/form ► public figure  Although not a public figure (=famous person), he was a man of great influence. ► a realistic figure/price · A more realistic figure for energy saving would be 20 percent. ► in round figures (=expressed as the nearest 10, 100, 1,000 etc) Altogether, in round figures, there are about three thousand students here. ► a six-figure salary (=one over £100,000 or $100,000)· He’s now a top executive with a six-figure salary. ► sales figures · The company said its sales figures continued to show growth. ► seasonally adjusted figures/rates/data etc (=ones that are changed according to what usually happens at a particular time of year) ► shadowy figures  the shadowy figures who control international terrorist organizations ► run into six figures  The final cost of the project will easily run into six figures (=be over £100,000 or $100,000). ► slender figure  Laura’s tall, slender figure ► a five-figure/six-figure/seven-figure etc sum (=an amount in the ten thousands, hundred thousands etc)· The newspaper paid a six-figure sum for the photograph of the princess. ► a target figure · The government has set a target figure of 6.2% ► trim figure  a trim figure ► unemployment figures/statistics · They publish monthly unemployment figures for the UK. ► up-to-date information/data/figures/news etc  They have access to up-to-date information through a computer database. COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► largely · At Sussex University, he met Gail Rebuck, who would figure largely in his life for the next twenty years.· The railway system continued to figure largely in high political planning in 1922.· The name of Carl August of Saxe-Weimar figured largely, but I had heard neither of him nor of it.· Britten's accompaniments have figured largely in our discussion.· Machinery figured largely in Cumbria and Wester Ross reflecting no doubt the distance from repair facilities. ► out · Also, I've figured out what Wilko's doing with Rocky.· Whenever my sons, John, and I eat out together, Miles and Evan always figure out the bill.· Dazedly I got back into bed and tried to figure out what had happened.· The prosecutors want to figure out what we are looking for.· Keith can not figure out why Potter looks so funny.· Clearly, one advantage of public-key cryptography is that no one can figure out the private key from the corresponding public key.· Hippix is Hippo's first product and it is currently trying to figure out its target market.· She can learn to observe herself, figuring out what she does easily and what takes more work. ► prominently · The condition should figure prominently in undergraduate clinical training and in medical textbooks.· But this group are the bedrock of the institution - and as such should figure prominently in our prayers.· They were to figure prominently among the more tragic case histories.· Claims and counter-claims of this kind were to figure prominently for generations in Ottoman-Habsburg negotiations.· Lords, ladies, dukes and duchesses figure prominently among the names as well as more ordinary mortals of obviously substantial means. NOUN► way · Maybe he figured the only way to get her off his back was to confess.· A new state law says they have to figure out a way to recycle it.· Have we ever figured out a rational way to explain and triage which drugs should be banned for which reasons?· Every society must figure out ways to bring them into the disciplines and duties of citizenship.· They decided we owned more land than we needed, and they figured out a way to get it.· Many defiant children are also unusually clever; figuring out ways to defeat your most sophisticated arguments.· They figured out a way to trick him.· So Knapman, an indigent, is stuck at the hospital trying to figure a way out of the mess. ► ways · Every society must figure out ways to bring them into the disciplines and duties of citizenship.· Many defiant children are also unusually clever; figuring out ways to defeat your most sophisticated arguments.· She moved from being easily overwhelmed and cautious to figuring out ways both to calm herself and to master new experiences.· The Republicans have hired consultants to figure out ways to appeal to those women not already turned off.· One of the tasks facing all freshmen is to figure out ways to counter this loneliness.· Heloise has figured out little ways to cut back on calories, she says. VERB► try · Connelly blinked myopically, trying to clear his gaze, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.· He was trying to figure out how bad it was going to be.· I tried to figure him out; he was by no means the worst of the bunch.· He went on talking while I tried to figure out what it meant.· So they're up there in the cashiers' office trying to figure out where all the money's coming from.· I read books, trying to figure it out.· That's what I do when I get worried - I try to figure it out.· I fiddle at my computer for a while, trying to figure out what to say. Phrases PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► that figures/(it) figures► go figure "He didn't even leave a message." "Go figure." PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► authority figure As we get older, we may be abused by other authority figures - teachers, doctors, bosses. Disrespect the authority figure out there on the field and then wonder why the kids do it in their classrooms. From the beginning Jones worked to destroy his followers' confidence in any of the old authority figures in their lives. Has difficulty taking directions from authority figures? 4. It was their word against a powerful authority figure, and they thought no one would believe them. It would seem that we are far more likely to obey unquestioningly when the authority figure is actually present. One wonders what is the unspoken view of the other authority figures involved in setting this up? The more status you give to a large number of authority figures, the more, relatively, you diminish your own. ► a ball-park figure/estimate/amount► comparative figures/data Comparative figures Prior year comparative figures have been restated to conform to the current year's presentation where appropriate. I do not want the comparative figures to be distorted. Inspection of the comparative figures is both instructive and startling. Significance levels for comparative data were determined by the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The comparative figures for 1991 were 25 and 19 respectively. The comparative figures one year later of 14% and 10.9% are still worrying. The most reliable of these comparative data measure voting in national elections. Whichever option societies take, comparative figures for the new disclosures will be required. ► cult film/band/figure etc Brad Pitt in the cult film Fight Club was a fraudulent soap salesman. He became a cult figure in which notions of salvation by innocent suffering have a place. He is loved to the point of becoming a cult figure. He often introduces himself to boomer types as the B-string lyricist for that perennial underground cult band, the Grateful Dead. Healing spas were based on a local cult figure and the devotees underwent rituals which included bathing and communal eating. I start by telling him that he's quite the cult figure here in Annapolis, and he looks stunned. This, however, did not prevent him from becoming a cult figure among some of the Jacobins and other revolutionaries. Vanessa Nygaard is a cult figure waiting to happen, a gale-force personality blowing through Maples Pavilion. ► cut a fine/strange etc figure► facts and figures The report contained some interesting facts and figures about the Saturn Corporation. He doesn't need to remember facts and figures, he actually sees the things and people of his cover-story life. He is notoriously tough on staff, often challenging them on facts and figures during council meetings. He learned how to boom out facts and figures to the city council members that they were unable to refute. It is not easy to make sense of the maze of facts and figures concerning the settlements. Most of the ones I run into need facts and figures. Stripped to their essentials his facts and figures are astonishing. These facts and figures added relatively little to what was already known in outline. When she left I quickly immersed myself in the safer, less emotional facts and figures of a real estate deal. ► a fine figure of a man/woman► have a (good) head for figures/facts/business etc► hourglass figure Instead of having an hourglass figure, whose curves suggested motherhood and domesticity, she was boyishly slim. ► matchstick men/figures More like troubled at mill Salford says there's more to its patron saint than pictures of matchstick men. ► an outside figure/estimate etc► six figures/digits But that must mean that the estate might run well into six figures. Each new compound synthesised was simply given a number, sometimes up to six figures long. Here are guys making six figures. Landsness obtained a settlement that he said exceeded six figures. Minutes later, a small group of six figures emerged from the woods. Movie rights have been sold, and Vintage Books just paid six figures to publish the paperback. That might boost the take up into the low six figures. The five-year deal is estimated at six figures. ► sympathetic figure/character But now he, or she, needs to be an even broader, more sympathetic figure than before. Charles didn't find many sympathetic characters among the cast. The reader zooms through the story hoping for a resolution that will satisfy the mystery without sacrificing any of the sympathetic characters. 1[intransitive] to be an important part of a process, event, or situation, or to be included in somethingfigure in/among Social issues figured prominently in the talks. My wishes didn’t figure among his considerations. Reform now figures high on the agenda.2[transitive] informal to form a particular opinion after thinking about a situationfigure (that) From the way he behaved, I figured that he was drunk. It was worth the trouble, I figured.3that figures/(it) figures spoken especially American English a)used to say that something that happens is expected or typical, especially something bad:  ‘It rained the whole weekend.’ ‘Oh, that figures.’ b)used to say that something is reasonable or makes sense:  It figures that she’d be mad at you, after what you did.4go figure American English spoken said to show that you think something is strange or difficult to explain:  ‘He didn’t even leave a message.’ ‘Go figure.’5[transitive] American English to calculate an amount SYN  work out:  I’m just figuring my expenses.figure on something phrasal verb informal especially American English to expect something or include it in your plans:  She was younger than any of us had figured on.figure somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb1to think about a problem or situation until you find the answer or understand what has happened SYN  work outfigure out how/what/why etc Can you figure out how to do it? If I have a map, I can figure it out. Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out (=find a way to solve the problem).2to understand why someone behaves in the way they do SYN  work out:  Women. I just can’t figure them out.
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