\Fig"ure\ (?; 135), n. [F., figure, L. figura; akin to
fingere to form, shape, feign. See {Feign}.]
1. The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance.
         Flowers have all exquisite figures.   --Bacon.
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.
         A coin that bears the figure of an angel. --Shak.
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.
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 surface; any arrangement made up of points,
   lines, angles, surfaces, etc.
5. The appearance or impression made by the conduct or carrer
   of a person; as, a sorry figure.
         I made some figure there.             --Dryden.
         Gentlemen of the best figure in the county.
                                               --Blackstone.
6. Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous
   representation; splendor; show.
         That he may live in figure and indulgence. --Law.
7. A character or symbol representing a number; a numeral; a
   digit; as, 1, 2,3, etc.
8. Value, as expressed in numbers; price; as, the goods are
   estimated or sold at a low figure. [Colloq.]
         With nineteen thousand a year at the very lowest
         figure.                               --Thackeray.
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.
         Who is the figure of Him that was to come. --Rom. v.
                                               14.
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.
          To represent the imagination under the figure of a
          wing.                                --Macaulay.
11. (Logic) The form of a syllogism with respect to the
    relative position of the middle term.
12. (Dancing) Any one of the several regular steps or
    movements made by a dancer.
13. (Astrol.) A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the
    astrological houses. --Johnson.
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 or motive; a florid
        embellishment.
Note: 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:

\Fig"ure\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Figured}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Figuring}.] [F. figurer, L. figurare, fr. figura. See
{Figure}, n.]
1. 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.
2. To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.
         The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with
         burning meteors.                      --Shak.
3. To indicate by numerals; also, to compute.
         As through a crystal glass the figured hours are
         seen.                                 --Dryden.
4. To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.
         Whose white vestments figure innocence. --Shak.
5. To prefigure; to foreshow.
         In this the heaven figures some event. --Shak.
6. (Mus.)
   (a) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other
       characters, in order to indicate the accompanying
       chords.
   (b) 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.

\Fig"ure\, v. t.
1. To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as,
   the envoy figured at court.
         Sociable, hospitable, eloquent, admired, figuring
         away brilliantly.                     --M. Arnold.
2. To calculate; to contrive; to scheme; as, he is figuring
   to secure the nomination. [Colloq.]