🧮 To calculate 🧑‍💼 An important person 🔢 A number 👤 A body shape 🎭 To play a part 🗣️ A language device 👁️ Main object

figure

475 3.1

The shape of a person's body

noun
/ˈfɪɡjər/

: figura

In her painting, she captured the graceful figure of a dancer moving through space.
a human figure
a female figure
a male figure

These are some brand new NECA figures I attempt.

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Examples

The ancient statue was a remarkable figure, depicting a warrior in full armor.
In the dance routine, the performers executed a beautiful figure that left the audience in awe.
And this is a figure from her paper.
Now I direct your attention to that very strange figure that you see behind me.
These figures on the ground are the men from the Indian village.

The Last Sin Eater (2007)
In each of the sketches, the figure is drawn in a series of lines across the page.

Academic text (2013)
I see this lone figure - a woman who's maybe just come off a bus.

Melinda and Melinda (2004)
It was a towering figure made of pure gold.
In the accompanying illustration, a human figure balances a small pyramid over his head.

Academic text (2011)
Attached, the figure of a monkey in Persian robes playing the cymbals.

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Synonyms

picture

vsfigure

∞ 1.0

An image like a drawing or photograph that shows something

includes nonvisual patterns and physical forms as well as visual ones

image

vsfigure

∞ 1.0

A picture showing a person or thing

covers physical forms and patterns beyond purely visual representations

build

vsfigure

91 1.7

The shape and size of a person's or animal's body

is broader, applying to diagrams, models, and performance patterns too

shape

vsfigure

50 4.1

A visible form that represents an idea

is broader, also covering diagrams, models, bodies, and dance patterns

fig

vsfigure

Specialized

37 4.2

A short label for a picture or diagram in a book

is the full general term rather than the abbreviated label

sculpture

vsfigure

34 3.4

The art of making three-dimensional figures by carving or molding

covers both the art process and other representational or structural forms

physique

vsfigure

29 4.8

The shape, size, and condition of a person's body

applies more generally to forms, diagrams, and artistic patterns

bod

vsfigure

Informal

27 9.0

A person's body, especially their physical shape or appearance

is the formal general term encompassing bodies and other form types

plane figure

vsfigure

Specialized

1 3.1

A flat shape like a circle or square

is wider, also including three dimensional forms and bodily shapes

Idioms

to cut a figure

Informal

1 7.6

To stand out and make people notice you

Compounds

public figure

50 3.5

A person who is well known to many people, for example a celebrity or politician

father figure

47 3.9

A man who gives care and guidance like a father to someone who is not his child

figure skating

29 3.1

A sport where people skate on ice and do jumps, spins, and graceful moves

authority figure

28 4.3

A person who has power because of their job or position

figure of speech

24 3.7

Words used to mean something different to create a strong picture

key figure

14 3.8

An important person who plays the main role in a group or event

stick figure

11 2.6

A very simple drawing of a person using a circle for the head and lines for body, arms and legs

controversial figure

8 4.6

A person who causes strong arguments among many people

figure eight

8 2.8

A flat shape with two loops joined like the number eight

mother figure

4 3.2

A woman who cares for and guides someone like a parent

wax figure

3 3.7

A life-size statue made of wax that looks like a real person

figure 8

3 3.6

A shape made of two loops that cross in the middle like the number eight

hourglass figure

2 3.9

A body shape with a narrow waist and wider hips and bust

father-figure

2 4.4

A man who gives care and guidance like a parent

figure eight

1 4.9

A skating move that traces two joined loops on the ice

three-figure

1 3.2

A number with three digits between 100 and 999

mythological figure

Literature

1 5.8

A character from traditional stories who has magical powers

symbolic figure

1 6.4

A person or object that stands for an idea with deeper meaning

figure skate

1 3.2

A boot with a metal blade and toe picks for jumps and spins on ice

figure of merit

Specialized

1 7.7

A number that shows how well a device or material works compared to others

figure of eight

1 4.8

A shape like the number eight made by one line crossing itself

zaftig figure

1 9.1

A woman with a full, curvy body seen as attractive

significant figure

Specialized

1 4.9

A digit that shows how exact a number is and begins with the first digit that is not zero

three-dimensional figure

Specialized

1 3.6

A solid shape with height, width and depth like a cube

plane figure

Specialized

1 3.1

A flat shape like a circle or square

tragic figure

Literature

1 7.2

A person in a story whose mistake causes their downfall

solid figure

1 3.9

A shape with length, width, and height like a cube or sphere

lay figure

Archaic

1 9.8

A model of the human body with movable joints that artists use to set and study poses

terminal figure

Specialized

1 9.9

A carved statue, often a head or animal, placed on a square pillar to mark a boundary

two-dimensional figure

Specialized

1 3.9

A flat shape like a square or circle with length and width but no depth

figure eight

Specialized

5.0

A knot tied near the rope end that stops it slipping through a hole and looks like the number eight

figure loom

Specialized

9.9

A machine that weaves cloth with patterns or pictures

figure of eight

Specialized

5.1

A knot shaped like the number eight used to stop a rope slipping

glamazonian figure

Informal

9.6

A tall, very attractive and stylish woman's body shape

percumbent figure

Archaic

9.9

A person or statue shown lying down in art

How Detailed

sculpture

34 3.4

figure

475 3.1

shape

628 1.0

outline

55 2.7

Surface Forms

figure singular

figures plural

Etymology

Figure comes from the Latin figura 'shape' and the verb fingere 'to shape'. So when we talk about someone's figure we mean their body form or shape.