Figure (f&ibreve_;g&uuptack_;r; 135), n. [F., figure, L. figura; akin to fingere to form, shape, feign. See Feign.] 1. The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance.
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Flowers have all exquisite figures. Bacon.
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2. The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modeling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body; as, a figure in bronze; a figure cut in marble.
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A coin that bears the figure of an angel. Shak.
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3. A pattern in cloth, paper, or other manufactured article; a design wrought out in a fabric; as, the muslin was of a pretty figure.
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4. (Geom.) A diagram or drawing, made to represent a magnitude or the relation of two or more magnitudes; a surface or space inclosed on all sides; -- called superficial when inclosed by lines, and solid when inclosed by surfaces; any arrangement made up of points, lines, angles, surfaces, etc.
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5. The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person; as, a sorry figure.
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I made some figure there. Dryden.
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Gentlemen of the best figure in the county. Blackstone.
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6. Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendor; show.
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That he may live in figure and indulgence. Law.
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7. A character or symbol representing a number; a numeral; a digit; as, 1, 2,3, etc.
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8. Value, as expressed in numbers; price; as, the goods are estimated or sold at a low figure. [Colloq.]
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With nineteen thousand a year at the very lowest figure. Thackeray.
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9. A person, thing, or action, conceived of as analogous to another person, thing, or action, of which it thus becomes a type or representative.
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Who is the figure of Him that was to come. Rom. v. 14.
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10. (Rhet.) A mode of expressing abstract or immaterial ideas by words which suggest pictures or images from the physical world; pictorial language; a trope; hence, any deviation from the plainest form of statement. Also called a figure of speech.
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To represent the imagination under the figure of a wing. Macaulay.
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11. (Logic) The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
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12. (Dancing) Any one of the several regular steps or movements made by a dancer.
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13. (Astrol.) A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses. Johnson.
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14. (Music) (a) Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression. Grove.

(b) A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a musical phrase or motive; a florid embellishment.
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&hand_; Figures are often written upon the staff in music to denote the kind of measure. They are usually in the form of a fraction, the upper figure showing how many notes of the kind indicated by the lower are contained in one measure or bar. Thus, 2/4 signifies that the measure contains two quarter notes. The following are the principal figures used for this purpose: --
2/22/42/8 4/22/44/8 3/23/43/8 6/46/46/8
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Academy figure, Canceled figures, Lay figure, etc. See under Academy, Cancel, Lay, etc. -- Figure caster, or Figure flinger, an astrologer. “This figure caster.” Milton. -- Figure flinging, the practice of astrology. -- Figure-of-eight knot, a knot shaped like the figure 8. See Illust. under Knot. -- Figure painting, a picture of the human figure, or the act or art of depicting the human figure. -- Figure stone (Min.), agalmatolite. -- Figure weaving, the art or process of weaving figured fabrics. -- To cut a figure, to make a display. [Colloq.] Sir W. Scott.
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Figure, v. i. 1. To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as, the envoy figured at court.
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Sociable, hospitable, eloquent, admired, figuring away brilliantly. M. Arnold.
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2. To calculate; to contrive; to scheme; as, he is figuring to secure the nomination. [Colloq.]
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go figure a phrase used by itself as an interjection to mean “How can one explain that?”, or to express puzzlement over some seeming contradiction. [Colloq.]
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