The Collaborative International Dictionary
Figure \Fig"ure\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Figured; p. pr. & vb. n. Figuring.] [F. figurer, L. figurare, fr. figura. See Figure, n.]
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To represent by a figure, as to form or mold; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape.
If love, alas! be pain I bear,
No thought can figure, and no tongue declare.Prior.
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To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.
The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with burning meteors.
--Shak. -
To indicate by numerals; also, to compute.
As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen.
--Dryden. -
To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.
Whose white vestments figure innocence.
--Shak. -
To prefigure; to foreshow.
In this the heaven figures some event.
--Shak. -
(Mus.)
To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords.
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To embellish.
To figure out, to solve; to compute or find the result of.
To figure up, to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of.
Usage examples of "to figure out".
Since 1905, when Einstein pointed out that nothing in the Universe can move faster than light, physicists and science-fiction writers have been racking their brains trying to figure out a way get around the lightspeed limit.
Of course, one of the hardest parts of this plan is to figure out in what field you will be the happiest—.
Their conversation was so vivid, so real, that I tuned in and tried to figure out why they’.
Try to figure out what skills you are likely to need, what ones you now have, and what ones you need to study up on.
It didn't take Albert Einstein to figure out that he was headed for trouble with Dawn.
Despreaux flattened herself and tried to figure out where to move as it suddenly seemed obvious that the cat was about to go clear over on its side.