Found 2 items, similar to figure of speech.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: figure of speech figure of speech n : language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense [syn: trope, figure, image]
English → English (gcide) Definition: figure of speech Figure \Fig"ure\ (f[i^]g"[-u]r; 135), n. [F., figure, L. figura; akin to fingere to form, shape, feign. See Feign.] 1. The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance. [1913 Webster] Flowers have all exquisite figures. --Bacon. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] A coin that bears the figure of an angel. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 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 surfaces; any arrangement made up of points, lines, angles, surfaces, etc. [1913 Webster] 5. The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person; as, a sorry figure. [1913 Webster] I made some figure there. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] Gentlemen of the best figure in the county. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster] 6. Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendor; show. [1913 Webster] That he may live in figure and indulgence. --Law. [1913 Webster] 7. A character or symbol representing a number; a numeral; a digit; as, 1, 2,3, etc. [1913 Webster] 8. Value, as expressed in numbers; price; as, the goods are estimated or sold at a low figure. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] With nineteen thousand a year at the very lowest figure. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] Who is the figure of Him that was to come. --Rom. v. 14. [1913 Webster] 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. Also called a figure of speech. [1913 Webster] To represent the imagination under the figure of a wing. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 11. (Logic) The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term. [1913 Webster] 12. (Dancing) Any one of the several regular steps or movements made by a dancer. [1913 Webster] 13. (Astrol.) A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses. --Johnson. [1913 Webster] 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 phrase or motive; a florid embellishment. [1913 Webster] 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: -- 2/22/42/8 4/22/44/8 3/23/43/8 6/46/46/8 [1913 Webster] Academy figure, Canceled figures, Lay figure, etc. See under Academy, Cancel, Lay, etc. Figure caster, or Figure flinger, an astrologer. “This figure caster.” --Milton. Figure flinging, the practice of astrology. Figure-of-eight knot, a knot shaped like the figure 8. See Illust. under Knot. Figure painting, a picture of the human figure, or the act or art of depicting the human figure. Figure stone (Min.), agalmatolite. Figure weaving, the art or process of weaving figured fabrics. To cut a figure, to make a display. [Colloq.] --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]