- figure
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See: handle
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▪ I. figure fig‧ure 1 [ˈfɪgə ǁ ˈfɪgjər] noun1. figures [plural] a number representing an amount, especially an officially published number:• I need this week's sales figures.
• These are the worst unemployment figures in three years.
• Poor trade figures rattled the market.
• February figures showed growth in lending had slowed to 5.5%.
ˈlistening ˌfigures [plural] MARKETINGthe number of people who listen to a particular radio station or programme:• Overall listening figures climbed 10%.
• In management reports, it is often worth adding up the columns of figures that are presented.
3. double figures numbers between 10 and 99:• Their economy is a mess with inflation well into double figures.
4. six-figure/seven-figure etc a number in the hundred thousands, millions etc, often used to talk about someone's income:• What's the point of a six-figure salary with no time to enjoy it?
5. [countable] a particular amount of money:• The event raised $200,000 for charity, and this is not the final figure. (= the amount that will be obtained in the end )
6. put a figure on something to say exactly how much something costs, is worth etc:• Police are waiting to hear from the accountants before they can put an exact figure on the amount missing.
• Figure 3.1 shows the important position of planning in the decision-making process.
[m0] ▪ II. figure figure 2 verb1. [transitive] informal to calculate an amount:• Did you figure your expenses for last month yet?
2. [intransitive] to be involved in an important part of an activity, process, or situation:figure in• A number of top British companies all figure in his career background.
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Ⅰ.figure UK US /ˈfɪgər/ noun [C]► an amount shown as a number, used especially in documents and reports: »Overall Christmas sales figures released earlier this week were disappointing.
official/government figures »US exports to Saudi Arabia were valued at 6.2 billion dollars, according to official figures.
latest/final/interim figure »The latest figures show that average spending on food is now around 15% of income.
closing/opening/preliminary figure »Many professionals prefer this chart as it shows the full range of the price movements rather than just the closing figure.
a high/low figure »A high figure may indicate that the economy is overheating, as consumers borrow in order to live beyond their means.
average/rough/approximate figure »He was able to give me an approximate figure of £36,000.
»In five years they plan to have 2,010 stores - almost double the current figure.
the actual/exact figure »I can't remember the exact figure, but it was $10 billion or thereabouts.
unemployment/crime figures »There was positive news in the labour market, with unexpectedly good unemployment figures.
listening/viewing/attendance figures »Listening figures for the breakfast show have risen, helping the station push its audience share back over 10 per cent.
► a number shown as a symbol rather than a word: »The figure 6 was clearly marked on the door.
»Write 'twelve thousand and fifty six' in figures.
► an important or well-known person: public/industry/political figure »Public figures from athletes to religious leaders have campaigned on the issue.
central/key/major figure »She is a central figure in the sport and the president of its dominant organization.
senior/leading/prominent figure »The controversial paper was attacked by many prominent figures within the scientific establishment.
government/corporate figure »Normally a routine overseas trip by a government figure would hardly warrant attention.
Ⅱ.figure UK US /ˈfɪgər/ verb► [T] to calculate something: figure that »Economists figure that the average snowmobiler spends about $555 per visit to the Yellowstone area.
► [I] to appear or to be included in something: figure in sth »The cost of higher education is expected to figure prominently in all of the parties' policies this November.
Financial and business terms. 2012.
