English主要词典
figure
Universal Words
noun, verb
noun
numbers
1 [C, often pl.] a number representing a particular amount, especially one given in official information:
the latest trade / sales / unemployment figures * Viewing figures for the series have dropped dramatically. * Figures for April show a slight improvement on previous months * By 1998, this figure had risen to 14 million. * The final figure looks like being much higher than predicted. * Experts put the real figure at closer to 75%.
2 [C] a symbol rather than a word representing one of the numbers between 0 and 9:
Write the figure '7' on the board. * a six-figure salary (= over 100000 pounds or dollars) * His salary is now in six figures.
seealsoDOUBLEFIGURES, SINGLEFIGURES
3 (figures) [pl.] (informal) the area of mathematics that deals with adding, multiplying, etc. numbers:
Are you any good at figures? * I'm afraid I don't have a head for figures (= I am not good at adding, etc.).
person
4 [C] a person of the type mentioned:
a leading figure in the music industry * a cult / public / political figure * a figure of authority * When she last saw him, he was a sad figure-old and tired. * a relatively unknown figure the world of fashion * one of the most popular figures in athletics
seealsoFATHERFIGURE, MOTHERFIGURE
5 [C] the shape of a person seen from a distance or not clearly:
a tall figure in black * I saw a shadowy figure approaching.
shape of body
6 [C] the shape of the human body, especially a woman's body that is attractive:
She's always had a good figure. * I'm watching my figure (= trying not to get fat).
in painting / story
7 [C] a person or an animal in a drawing, painting, etc., or in a story:
The central figure in the painting is the artist's daughter.
statue
8 [C] a statue of a person or an animal:
a bronze figure of a horse
picture / diagram
9 [C] (abbreviation fig.) a picture, diagram, etc. in a book, that is referred to by a number:
The results are illustrated in figure 3 opposite.
geometry
10 [C] a particular shape formed by lines or surfaces:
a five-sided figure * a solid figure
movement on ice
11 [C] a pattern or series of movements performed on ice:
The skater executed a perfect set of figures.
IDIOMS
be / become a figure of fun to be/become sb that other people laugh at
cut a...figure (of a person) to have a particular appearance:
He cut a striking figure in his white dinner jacket.
put a figure on sth to say the exact price or number of sth:
It's impossible to put a figure on the number of homeless people in London.
moreatFACT
verb
be important
1 [V] ~ (as sth) (in / among sth) to be part of a process, situation, etc. especially an important part:
The question of the peace settlement is likely to figure prominently in the talks. * My feelings about the matter didn't seem to figure at all. * It did not figure high on her list of priorities. * Do I still figure in your plans?
think / decide
2 to think or decide that sth will happen or is true:
[V(that)] I figured (that) if I took the night train, I could be in Scotland by morning. * We figured the sensible thing to do was to wait. * [VN] That's what I figured. [also Vwh-]
calculate
3 [VN] (AmE) to calculate an amount or the cost of sth:
We figured the attendance at 150000.
IDIOMS
it / that figures used to say that sth was expected or seems logical:
'John called in sick.' 'That figures, he wasn't feeling well yesterday.' * (disapproving) 'She was late again.' 'Yes, that figures.'
PHRASALVERBS
figure on sth
