- 1[countable, usually plural] a number representing a particular amount, especially one given in official information the latest trade/sales/unemployment, etc. figures Viewing figures for the series have dropped dramatically. Figures for April show a slight improvement over previous months By 2009, this figure had risen to 14 million. The final figure looks like it will be much higher than predicted. Experts put the real figure at closer to 75%.
- 2[countable] 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 100,000 dollars) His salary is now in six figures. see also single figures
- 3figures [plural] (informal) the area of mathematics that deals with adding, multiplying, etc. numbers synonym arithmetic 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[countable] a person of the type mentioned a leading figure in the music industry a political figure an authority figure When she last saw him, he was a sad figure—old and tired. a relatively unknown figure in the world of fashion one of the most popular figures in baseball see father figure, mother figure
- 5[countable] 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[countable] 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). Topic CollocationsPhysical AppearanceA person may be described as having:eyes
- (bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
- deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
- small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/shifty eyes
- piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
- bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
- bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
- long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
- a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
- a straight/a pointy/a Roman/an aquiline nose
- full/thick/thin/pouty lips
- dry/chapped/cracked lips
- flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
- soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
- white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
- a large/high/broad/wide forehead
- a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
- a long/full/bushy/wispy beard
- a full/thin goatee
- a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil mustache
- pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
- dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
- a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
- deep/fine/small/facial wrinkles
- blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/ginger/gray hair
- straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
- thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
- dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
- long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
- a bald/balding/shaved head
- a receding hairline
- a bald patch/spot
- a side/center part
- a long/short/thick/slender/ (disapproving) scrawny neck
- broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
- a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
- a flat/round/swollen/bulging stomach
- a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
- big/wide/narrow/slim hips
- a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
- thin/slender/muscular arms
- big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
- long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
- long/muscular/hairy/shapely/ (informal) (often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
- muscular/chubby/ (informal) (disapproving) flabby thighs/calves
- big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
- a good/slim/slender/hourglass figure
- be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
in painting/story - 7[countable] 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.
- 8[countable] a statue of a person or an animal a bronze figure of a horse picture/diagram
- 9[countable] (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[countable] a particular shape formed by lines or surfaces a five-sided figure a solid figure movement on ice
- 11[countable] a pattern or series of movements performed on ice The skater executed a perfect set of figures. Idioms
numbers
to be/become someone that other people laugh at
(of a person) to have a particular appearance He cut a striking figure in his white dinner jacket.
accurate and detailed information I've asked to see all the facts and figures before I make a decision.
to say the exact price or number of something It's impossible to put a figure on the number of homeless people in Los Angeles.
Check pronunciation: figure