figure /figˈər, also (N American and dialect) -yər or (old) figˈūr/

1. The form of anything in outline
2. Appearance
3. A shape
4. A geometrical form
5. A diagram
6. A horoscope (Shakespeare)
7. A design
8. An illustration
9. Bodily shape
10. A human form or representation of it
11. A personality, personage or character
12. An impressive, noticeable, important, ludicrous or grotesque person
13. A written character denoting a number
14. Amount
15. Value or price
16. A deviation from the ordinary mode of expression (rhetoric)
17. The form of a syllogism with respect to the position of the middle term (logic)
18. A group of notes felt as a unit (music)
19. A series of steps or movements in a dance or in skating
20. An emblem

1. To make an image of
2. To represent
3. To mark with figures or designs
4. To imagine
5. To reckon, work out (often with out)
6. To come to understand (often with out)
7. To note by figures

1. To make figures
2. To appear as a figure, make an appearance or show
3. To follow as a logical consequence, be expected (informal)
4. To form or shape (obsolete)
5. To symbolize (archaic)
6. To foreshow (obsolete)

figūrabilˈity noun

The quality of being figurable

figˈūrable adjective

figˈūral adjective

Represented by a figure or figures

figurant /figˈū-rənt/ or figurante /fēg-oo-ränˈtā/ noun (Italy)

A ballet-dancer, one of those who form a background for the solo dancers

figˈūrate adjective

1. Of a certain definite form
2. Florid (music)

figūrāˈtion noun

1. The act of giving figure or form
2. Representation by or in figures or shapes, esp significant, typical or emblematic figures
3. A figure of this kind
4. Ornamentation with a design
5. Consistent use of a particular melodic or harmonic series of notes (music)
6. Florid treatment (music)

figˈūrative adjective

1. Representing by, containing or filled with figures of speech (rhetoric)
2. Metaphorical
3. Representing a figure
4. Emblematic or symbolic
5. Of a style of painting, sculpture, etc characterized by the realistic depiction of people, objects, etc (as opposed to abstract art)

figˈūratively adverb

figˈūrativeness noun

figˈured /-ərd/ adjective

1. Having a figure
2. Marked or adorned with figures
3. Delineated in a figure
4. In the form of figures

figˈūrine /-ēn or -ēnˈ/ noun

A small carved or moulded figure

figˈurist noun

A person who uses, or interprets, by figures

figurate numbers plural noun

A series of numbers such that if each be subtracted from the next, and the series so formed be treated in the same way, by a continuation of the process equal differences will ultimately be obtained

figˈure-caster noun

1. An astrologer (obsolete)
2. A person who prepares casts of figures

figˈure-casting noun

1. Astrology (obsolete)
2. The art of preparing casts of animal or other forms

figˈure-dance noun

A dance consisting of elaborate formalized movements

figured bass noun

A bass with numerals added to indicate chords

• make love to
• make merry
• make mincemeat of
• make money
• make much of
• make no bones about
• make no bones of
• make no difference
• make no doubt
• make no odds
• make no scruple
• make nothing of
• make of
• make off
• make old bones
• make on
• make one's bow
• make oneself at home
• make oneself scarce
• make one's excuses
• make one's lucky
• make one's manners
• make one's mark
• make one's name
• make one's peace with