figure
Other forms: figures; figured; figuring
Anything with form has a certain shape, or figure, but we most often use the word to suggest a human’s form. That's why all those dolls are called "action figures" — they have the physical shape of people.
In a broad sense, the noun figure can be used to suggest anything with a physical presence. In technical writings, pictures representing some concept are usually labeled as figures. A physically attractive woman is said to have a nice figure. We also say that a prominent person is a well-known figure. The word also can refer to a number, as in "a dollar figure." As a verb, the word suggests deciphering, as when you figure something out. Go figure.
Definitions of figure
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alternate name for the body of a human being
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synonyms:
anatomy, bod, build, chassis, flesh, form, frame, human body, material body, physical body, physique, shape, soma
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types:
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person
a human body (usually including the clothing)
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juvenile body
the body of a young person
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adult body
the body of an adult human being
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male body
the body of a male human being
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female body
the body of a female human being
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child's body
the body of a human child
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adult female body, woman's body
the body of an adult woman
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adult male body, man's body
the body of an adult man
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type of:
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body, organic structure, physical structure
the entire structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
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a model of a bodily form (especially of a person)“he made a figure of Santa Claus”
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examples:
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Trojan Horse
a large hollow wooden figure of a horse (filled with Greek soldiers) left by the Greeks outside Troy during the Trojan War
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types:
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dummy
a figure representing the human form
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figurehead
figure on the bow of some sailing vessels
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figurine, statuette
a small carved or molded figure
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marionette, puppet
a small figure of a person operated from above with strings by a puppeteer
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snowman
a figure of a person made of packed snow
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lay figure
dummy in the form of an artist's jointed model of the human body
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form, manakin, manikin, mannequin, mannikin
a life-size dummy used to display clothes
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ventriloquist's dummy
a wooden dummy into which a ventriloquist projects the voice
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type of:
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model, simulation
a representation of something (sometimes on a smaller scale)
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Trojan Horse
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a well-known or notable person“she is an important figure in modern music”
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synonyms:
name, public figure
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type of:
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important person, influential person, personage
a person whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events
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important person, influential person, personage
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the impression produced by a person
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a unitary percept having structure and coherence that is the object of attention and that stands out against a ground
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Antonyms:
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ground
a relatively homogeneous percept extending back of the figure on which attention is focused
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type of:
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percept, perception, perceptual experience
the representation of what is perceived; basic component in the formation of a concept
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ground
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a combination of points and lines and planes that form a visible palpable shape
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types:
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equilateral
a figure whose sides are all equal
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pencil
a figure formed by a set of straight lines or light rays meeting at a point
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plane figure, two-dimensional figure
a two-dimensional shape
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solid figure, three-dimensional figure
a three-dimensional shape
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subfigure
a figure that is a part of another figure
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parallel
(mathematics) one of a set of parallel geometric figures (parallel lines or planes)
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sculpture
a three-dimensional work of plastic art
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heart
a plane figure with rounded sides curving inward at the top and intersecting at the bottom; conventionally used on playing cards and valentines
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polygon, polygonal shape
a closed plane figure bounded by straight sides
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conic, conic section
(geometry) a curve generated by the intersection of a plane and a circular cone
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oblong
a plane figure that deviates from a square or circle due to elongation
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hemicycle, semicircle
a plane figure with the shape of half a circle
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sector
a plane figure bounded by two radii and the included arc of a circle
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star
a plane figure with 5 or more points; often used as an emblem
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paraboloid
a surface having parabolic sections parallel to a single coordinate axis and elliptic sections perpendicular to that axis
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ellipsoid
a surface whose plane sections are all ellipses or circles
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flank
a subfigure consisting of a side of something
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hemisphere
half of a sphere
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tree, tree diagram
a figure that branches from a single root
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facet
a smooth surface (as of a bone or cut gemstone)
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branch, leg, ramification
a part of a forked or branching shape
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a diagram or picture illustrating textual material“the area covered can be seen from Figure 2”
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synonyms:
fig
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type of:
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illustration
artwork that helps make something clear or attractive
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illustration
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a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating“she made the best score on compulsory figures”
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types:
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figure eight
a skating figure that carves an 8 in the ice
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spread eagle
a skating figure executed with the skates heel to heel in a straight line
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figure eight
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a decorative or artistic work
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types:
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argyle, argyll
a design consisting of a pattern of varicolored diamonds on a solid background (originally for knitted articles); patterned after the tartan of a clan in western Scotland
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bear claw
an incised design resembling the claw of a bear; used in Native American pottery
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damascene
a design produced by inlaying gold or silver into steel
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decal, decalcomania
either a design that is fixed to some surface or a paper bearing the design which is to be transferred to the surface
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device
any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery)
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emblem, icon
special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.
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herringbone, herringbone pattern
a pattern of columns of short parallel lines with all the lines in one column sloping one way and lines in adjacent columns sloping the other way; it is used in weaving, masonry, parquetry, embroidery
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linocut
a design carved in relief into a block of linoleum
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mandala
any of various geometric designs (usually circular) symbolizing the universe; used chiefly in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation
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mihrab
(Islam) a design in the shape of niche in a Muslim prayer rug; during worship the niche must be pointed toward Mecca
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motif, motive
a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration
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polka dot
design consisting of a pattern of regularly spaced circular spots
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pyrograph
a design produced by pyrography
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screen saver
(computer science) a moving design that appears on a computer screen when there has been no input for a specified period of time
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sunburst
a design consisting of a central disk resembling the sun and rays emanating from it
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tattoo
a design on the skin made by tattooing
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tetraskele, tetraskelion
a figure consisting of four stylized human arms or legs (or bent lines) radiating from a center
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triskele, triskelion
a figure consisting of three stylized human arms or legs (or three bent lines) radiating from a center
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weave
pattern of weaving or structure of a fabric
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marking
a pattern of marks
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check
a textile pattern of squares or crossed lines (resembling a checkerboard)
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colophon
a publisher's emblem printed in a book (usually on the title page)
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colors, colours
a distinguishing emblem
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crest
(heraldry) in medieval times, an emblem used to decorate a helmet
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Cross
a representation of the structure on which Jesus was crucified; used as an emblem of Christianity or in heraldry
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device
an emblematic design (especially in heraldry)
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flag
emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
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heraldry
emblem indicating the right of a person to bear arms
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open weave
a weave in which warp threads never come together, leaving interstices in the fabric
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plain weave, taffeta weave
a basic style of weave in which the weft and warp threads intertwine alternately to produce a checkerboard effect
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satin weave
a weave in which the filling and warp threads intersect in such a way as to give a smooth compact surface with no distinguishable twill line
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seal, stamp
a device incised to make an impression; used to secure a closing or to authenticate documents
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skull and crossbones
emblem warning of danger or death
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totem
emblem consisting of an object such as an animal or plant; serves as the symbol of a family or clan (especially among American Indians)
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totem pole
a tribal emblem consisting of a pillar carved and painted with totemic figures; erected by Indian tribes of the northwest Pacific coast
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twill, twill weave
a weave used to produce the effect of parallel diagonal ribs
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blaze
a light-colored marking
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crisscross, cross, mark
a marking that consists of lines that cross each other
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eyespot, ocellus
an eyelike marking (as on the wings of some butterflies); usually a spot of color inside a ring of another color
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shading
graded markings that indicate light or shaded areas in a drawing or painting
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dapple, fleck, maculation, patch, speckle, spot
a small contrasting part of something
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bar, streak, stripe
a narrow marking of a different color or texture from the background
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Hakenkreuz, swastika
the official emblem of the Nazi Party and the Third Reich; a cross with the arms bent at right angles in a clockwise direction
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type of:
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decoration, ornament, ornamentation
something used to beautify
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the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals“the figure was about a thousand”
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synonyms:
number
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types:
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multiplicity, numerosity, numerousness
a large number
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preponderance, prevalence
a superiority in numbers or amount
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countlessness, innumerableness
a number beyond counting
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bulk, majority
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
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minority
being or relating to the smaller in number of two parts
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fewness
the quality of being small in number
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roundness
the quality of being round numbers
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multitudinousness
a very large number (especially of people)
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type of:
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amount
the relative magnitude of something with reference to a criterion
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an amount of money expressed numerically“a figure of $17 was suggested”
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type of:
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amount, amount of money, sum, sum of money
a quantity of money
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amount, amount of money, sum, sum of money
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one of the elements that collectively form a system of numeration
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synonyms:
digit
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types:
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binary digit
either 0 or 1 in binary notation
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octal digit
a digit from 0 to 7 in octal notation
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decimal digit
a digit from 0 to 9 in decimal notation
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duodecimal digit
a digit from 0 to 11 in duodecimal notation
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hexadecimal digit
a digit from 0 to 15 in hexadecimal notation
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significant digit, significant figure
any digit of a number that is known with certainty; any digit of a number beginning with the leftmost non-zero digit and ending with the rightmost non-zero digit (or a zero considered to be the exact value)
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0, cipher, cypher, nought, zero
a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number
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1, I, ace, one, single, unity
the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
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2, II, deuce, two
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
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3, III, deuce-ace, leash, tercet, ternary, ternion, terzetto, three, threesome, tierce, trey, triad, trine, trinity, trio, triplet, troika
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
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4, IV, Little Joe, four, foursome, quadruplet, quartet, quatern, quaternary, quaternion, quaternity, tetrad
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
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5, Little Phoebe, Phoebe, V, cinque, fin, five, fivesome, pentad, quint, quintet, quintuplet
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
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6, Captain Hicks, VI, half a dozen, hexad, sestet, sextet, sextuplet, sise, six, sixer
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
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7, VII, heptad, septenary, septet, seven, sevener
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
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8, VIII, eight, eighter, eighter from Decatur, octad, octet, octonary, ogdoad
the cardinal number that is the sum of seven and one
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9, IX, Nina from Carolina, ennead, nine, niner
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
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monad, monas
a singular metaphysical entity from which material properties are said to derive
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singleton
a single object (as distinguished from a pair)
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craps, snake eyes
expressions used when when two dice are thrown and both come up showing one spot
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brace, couple, couplet, distich, duad, duet, duo, dyad, pair, span, twain, twosome, yoke
two items of the same kind
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type of:
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integer, whole number
any of the natural numbers or their negatives or zero
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make a mathematical calculation or computation
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work out
be calculated
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types:
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quantise, quantize
apply quantum theory to; restrict the number of possible values of (a quantity) or states of (a physical entity or system) so that certain variables can assume only certain discrete magnitudes that are integral multiples of a common factor
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extract
calculate the root of a number
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process
perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information
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prorate
divide or assess proportionally
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miscalculate, misestimate
calculate incorrectly
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recalculate
calculate anew
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average, average out
compute the average of
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factor, factor in, factor out
resolve into factors
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add, add together
make an addition by combining numbers
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deduct, subtract, take off
make a subtraction
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multiply
combine by multiplication
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divide, fraction
perform a division
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extrapolate, interpolate
estimate the value of
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differentiate
calculate a derivative; take the derivative
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integrate
calculate the integral of; calculate by integration
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survey
plot a map of (land)
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approximate, estimate, gauge, guess, judge
judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
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budget
make a budget
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capitalise, capitalize
compute the present value of a business or an income
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resolve, solve
find the solution
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square
raise to the second power
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cube
raise to the third power
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foot, foot up
add a column of numbers
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carry back
deduct a loss or an unused credit from taxable income for a prior period
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raise
multiply (a number) by itself a specified number of times: 8 is 2 raised to the power 3
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halve
divide by two; divide into halves
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quarter
divide by four; divide into quarters
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triangulate
survey by triangulation
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quantise, quantize
approximate (a signal varying continuously in amplitude) by one whose amplitude is restricted to a prescribed set of discrete values
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misgauge
gauge something incorrectly or improperly
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place, put, set
estimate
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give
estimate the duration or outcome of something
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lowball, underestimate
make a deliberately low estimate
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assess
estimate the value of (property) for taxation
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make
calculate as being
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count, reckon
take account of
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overcapitalise, overcapitalize
estimate the capital value of (a company) at an unreasonably or unlawfully high level
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factorise, factorize
resolve (a polynomial) into factors
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truncate
approximate by ignoring all terms beyond a chosen one
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guesstimate
estimate based on a calculation
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type of:
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reason
think logically
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work out
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language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense
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synonyms:
figure of speech, image, trope
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types:
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conceit
an elaborate poetic image or a far-fetched comparison of very dissimilar things
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irony
a trope that involves incongruity between what is expected and what occurs
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exaggeration, hyperbole
extravagant exaggeration
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kenning
a compound word used as a conventional metaphorical name for something, specially in Old English and Old Norse poetry
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metaphor
a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity
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metonymy
substituting the name of an attribute or feature for the name of the thing itself (as in `they counted heads')
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oxymoron
conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence')
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personification, prosopopoeia
representing an abstract quality or idea as a person or creature
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simile
a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with `like' or `as')
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synecdoche
a figure of speech in which part of something is used to refer to or represent the whole thing (or vice versa)
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zeugma
use of a word to govern two or more words though appropriate to only one
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synesthesia
a figure of speech in which an author appeals to more than one of the five senses
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dramatic irony
(theater) irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play
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dead metaphor, frozen metaphor
a metaphor that has occurred so often that it has become a new meaning of the expression (e.g., `he is a snake' may once have been a metaphor but after years of use it has died and become a new sense of the word `snake')
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mixed metaphor
a combination of two or more metaphors that together produce a ridiculous effect
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synesthetic metaphor
a metaphor that exploits a similarity between experiences in different sense modalities
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metalepsis
substituting metonymy of one figurative sense for another
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syllepsis
use of a word to govern two or more words though agreeing in number or case etc. with only one
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verbal irony
when the intended meaning of a speaker’s words contrasts with the literal meaning
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situational irony
when the result of an event or action is the opposite of what was intended or expected
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type of:
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rhetorical device
a use of language that creates a literary effect (but often without regard for literal significance)
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imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind
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realise, realize, see, understand
perceive (an idea or situation) mentally
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visualise, visualize
form a mental picture of something that is invisible or abstract
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type of:
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conceive of, envisage, ideate, imagine
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
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realise, realize, see, understand
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understand“He didn't figure her”
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type of:
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apprehend, compass, comprehend, dig, get the picture, grasp, grok, savvy
understand or perceive the meaning of something
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apprehend, compass, comprehend, dig, get the picture, grasp, grok, savvy
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judge to be probable
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types:
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allow, take into account
allow or plan for a certain possibility; concede the truth or validity of something
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budget for
calculate enough money for; provide for in the budget
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type of:
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evaluate, judge, pass judgment
form a critical opinion of
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allow, take into account
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be or play a part of or in
Pronunciation
US
/ˈfɪgjər/
UK
/ˈfɪgə/
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘figure'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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