fig‧ure S1 W1 / fɪɡə $ fɪɡjər / 名词 [可数名词] #
1 number
a) [通常复数形式] a number representing an amount, especially an official number
unemployment/sales/trade figures
Ohio’s unemployment figures for December
Government figures underestimate the problem.
It’s about 30,000 in round figures (= to the nearest 10, 20, 100 etc ) .
b) a number from 0 to 9, written as a character rather than a word :
the figure ‘2’
executives with salaries in six figures (= more than £99,999 )
a four/five/six figure number (= a number in the thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands etc ) → double figures , single figures
2 amount of money a particular amount of money
figure of
an estimated figure of $200 million
3 person
a) someone who is important or famous in some way
a leading/key/central figure
Several leading figures resigned from the party.
the outstanding political figure of his time
b) someone with a particular type of appearance or character, especially when they are far away or difficult to see :
a tall figure in a hat
Through the window I could see the commanding figure of Mrs Bradshaw. → cult figure at cult 2
4 woman’s body the shape of a woman’s body :
She has a good figure .
keep/lose your figure (= stay thin or become fat )
Most women have to watch their figure (= be careful not to get fat ) .
5 father/mother/authority figure someone who is considered to be like a father etc, or to represent authority, because of their character or behaviour
6 figures [复数形式] British English the activity of adding, multiplying etc numbers 同义词 arithmetic :
a natural ability with figures
have a head for figures (= be good at arithmetic )
7 mathematical shape a geometric shape :
A hexagon is a six-sided figure.
8 painting/model a person in a painting or a model of a person :
the figure in the background → figurine
9 drawing ( written abbreviation fig. ) a numbered drawing or a diagram in a book
10 put a figure on it/give an exact figure to say exactly how much something is worth, or how much or how many of something you are talking about :
It’s worth a lot but I couldn’t put a figure on it.
11 a fine figure of a man/woman someone who is tall and has a good body
12 a figure of fun someone who people laugh at
13 on ice a pattern or movement in figure skating
COLLOCATIONS
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + figure
high/low The figures are worryingly high.
sales figures We exceeded our target sales figures.
unemployment figures There have been changes in the way the unemployment figures are calculated.
trade figures (= showing the value of a country’s exports compared to imports ) Trade figures showed a slump last month.
government figures (= figures produced by the government ) Government figures suggest a moderate recovery in consumer spending.
official figures According to official figures, two million houses in England are inadequately heated.
the latest figures The latest figures show that crimes are down by 0.2 percent.
the exact figure The government was unable to give the exact figure for the number of foreign workers in the country.
an approximate/rough figure He gave us an approximate figure for the cost of the repairs.
a ballpark figure informal (= one that is not exact ) Can you give me a ballpark figure of the likely price?
动词
reach double/six etc figures (= be 10 or more/100,000 or more etc ) The death toll in the region has reached five figures.
add up the figures I must have made a mistake when I added up the figures.
release the figures (= make them public ) The company will release the sales figures later this week.
短语
in single figures (= less than 10 ) Women heads of department are in single figures.
in double figures (= between 10 and 99 ) Only two of the group had scores in double figures.
in round figures (= to the nearest 10, 20, 100 etc ) In round figures, about 20 million people emigrated from Europe during that period.
according to the figures According to official figures, exam results have improved again this year.
a four/five/six etc figure number (= a number in the thousands/ten thousands/hundred thousands etc ) Choose a four figure number that you can easily remember.
THESAURUS
body the shape, size, and appearance of someone’s body : Many women are not happy with their bodies. | His clothes emphasized his strong body.
figure a woman’s figure is the shape of her body – used especially when it is attractive : She has a really nice figure. | Freya had an enviably slim figure.
build the size and shape of someone’s body – used in the following 短语 : Police described the man as tall and of medium build . | He was of heavy build . | She has a very slight build .
physique the size and appearance of someone’s body – used especially about men who look attractive : He was over 1.8 m tall with a muscular physique. | Ben has a very athletic physique.
figure S1 W3 verb #
1 [不及物动词] to be an important part of a process, event, or situation, or to be included in something
figure in/among
Social issues figured prominently in the talks.
My wishes didn’t figure among his considerations.
Reform now figures high on the agenda.
2 [及物动词] informal to form a particular opinion after thinking about a situation
figure (that)
From the way he behaved, I figured that he was drunk.
It was worth the trouble, I figured.
3 that figures/(it) figures spoken especially American English
a) used to say that something that happens is expected or typical, especially something bad :
‘It rained the whole weekend.’ ‘Oh, that figures.’
b) used to say that something is reasonable or makes sense :
It figures that she’d be mad at you, after what you did.
4 go figure American English spoken said to show that you think something is strange or difficult to explain :
‘He didn’t even leave a message.’ ‘Go figure.’
5 [及物动词] American English to calculate an amount SYN work out :
I’m just figuring my expenses.
figure on something phrasal verb informal especially American English
to expect something or include it in your plans :
She was younger than any of us had figured on.
figure somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb
1 to think about a problem or situation until you find the answer or understand what has happened SYN work out
figure out how/what/why etc
Can you figure out how to do it?
If I have a map, I can figure it out.
Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out (= find a way to solve the problem ) .
2 to understand why someone behaves in the way they do SYN work out :
Women. I just can’t figure them out.