Topic: NEWSPAPERS, PUBLISHING
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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | Latin figura, from fingere 'to shape, make' |
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fig‧ure1 S1 W1
[countable]
[countable]1
number
a) HMN [usually plural] a number representing an amount, especially an official number Government figures underestimate the problem.
Government figures underestimate the problem.b) HMN a number from 0 to 10, written as a sign rather than a word : the figure '2'
➔ double figures, single figuresthe figure '2' a four/five/six figure number (=a number in the thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands etc)
3
person
a) someone who is important or famous in some way
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.
a tall figure in a hatThrough the window I could see the commanding figure of Mrs Bradshaw.➔ cult figure
at cult25 someone who is considered to be like a father etc, or to represent authority, because of their character or behaviour
father/mother/authority figure
MP6HMN the activity of adding, multiplying etc numbers [= arithmetic]:
figures
[plural] British English have a head for figures (=be good at arithmetic)
7HM a geometric shape : A hexagon is a six-sided figure.
mathematical shape
A hexagon is a six-sided figure.8 a person in a painting or a model of a person : the figure in the background ➔ figurine
painting/model
AVthe figure in the background9 a numbered drawing or a diagram in a book
drawing
TCN written abbreviation fig.10 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.
put a figure on it/give an exact figure
It's worth a lot but I couldn't put a figure on it.13 a pattern or movement in figure skating
