figure of eight
1
4.8
- noun
- For our art project, we decided to draw a figure of eight using colorful chalk on the pavement.
Examples
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In gymnastics, a routine often involves performing a figure of eight on the balance beam.
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The roller coaster takes a thrilling turn as it dives into a figure of eight before climbing back up again.
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What it does is to go up and waggle and then it goes round that side, this side of the figure of eight, as it were.
Synonyms
8
2.8
A flat shape with two loops joined like the number eight
3
3.6
A shape made of two loops that cross in the middle like the number eight
1
9.9
A curve shaped like a figure eight often used in math
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a knot shaped like the number 8' is directly and compositionally derived from 'figure' (shape) + 'of' (linking ) + 'eight' (the numeral), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer it denotes a shape like the digit 8 applied to a knot. This noun-of-number construction is cross-linguistically common (e.g. Spanish 'figura de ocho') and follows transparent composition patterns.
Etymology
Figure of eight comes from the shape of the number 8, a single line that loops and crosses itself. That's why it means 'a shape like the number eight'.