figure

/ˈfi-gyər/

Middle English, "shape, form, likeness, symbol, design, written character," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin figūra "shape, form, outward appearance, likeness, nonliteral form of speech," from fig-, variant stem of fingere "to mold, fashion, make a likeness of, pretend to be" + -ūra -ure

noun

  1. a number symbol : numeral, digit

  2. arithmetical calculations

  3. a written or printed character

good at figures

verb

  1. to represent by or as if by a figure or outline

  2. to decorate with a pattern; also : to write figures over or under (the bass) in order to indicate the accompanying chords

  3. to indicate or represent by numerals

noun

  1. something resembling the Arabic numeral eight in form or shape: such as

  2. a small knot

  3. an embroidery stitch