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Symbol vs. Figure — What's the Difference?

Symbol vs. Figure — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Symbol and Figure

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Symbol

A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different concepts and experiences.

Figure

A written or printed symbol representing something other than a letter, especially a number.

Symbol

A mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process, e.g. the letter or letters standing for a chemical element or a character in musical notation
The chemical symbol for helium is He
The symbol r in Figure 5 represents a gene which is ineffective

Figure

Figures Mathematical calculations
Good at figures.

Symbol

A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract
The limousine was another symbol of his wealth and authority
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Figure

An amount represented in numbers
Sold for a large figure.

Symbol

Symbolize.

Figure

Figures One of the digits specified as making up a larger number
A salary in the six figures.

Symbol

Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible
The lamb is a symbol of innocence.

Figure

(Mathematics) A geometric form consisting of any combination of points, lines, or planes
A triangle is a plane figure.

Symbol

An instance that typifies a broader pattern or situation
His striking out to end the rally was a symbol of everything that had gone wrong with the team over the past month.

Figure

The outline, form, or silhouette of a thing
Saw the figure of a cat in the window.

Symbol

A printed or written sign used to represent an operation, element, quantity, quality, or relation, as in mathematics or music.

Figure

The shape or form of a human body
A fashion model with an attractive figure.

Symbol

(Psychology) An object or image that an individual unconsciously uses to represent repressed thoughts, feelings, or impulses
A phallic symbol.

Figure

An indistinct object or shape
The figures in the mist turned out to be lampposts.

Symbol

A character or glyph representing an idea, concept or object.
$ is the symbol for dollars in the US and some other countries.
Chinese people use word symbols for writing.

Figure

A person, especially a well-known one
A famous historical figure.

Symbol

A thing considered the embodiment of a concept or object.
The lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience.

Figure

Impression or appearance made
Cut a dashing figure at the reception.

Symbol

(linguistics) A type of noun whereby the form refers to the same entity independently of the context; a symbol arbitrarily denotes a referent. See also icon and index.

Figure

A person, animal, or object that symbolizes something.

Symbol

A summary of a dogmatic statement of faith.
The Apostles, Nicene Creed and the confessional books of Protestantism, such as the Augsburg Confession of Lutheranism are considered symbols.

Figure

A pictorial or sculptural representation, especially of the human body.

Symbol

(crystallography) The numerical expression which defines a plane's position relative to the assumed axes.

Figure

A diagram
Drew a figure of the office layout.

Symbol

(obsolete) That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty.

Figure

A design or pattern, as in a textile
Silk with a paisley figure.

Symbol

(obsolete) Share; allotment.

Figure

An illustration printed from an engraved plate or block.

Symbol

(programming) An internal identifier used by a debugger to relate parts of the compiled program to the corresponding names in the source code.

Figure

A configuration or distinct group of steps in a dance.

Symbol

(telecommunications) A signalling event on a communications channel; a signal that cannot be further divided into meaningful information.

Figure

A pattern traced by a series of movements, as in ice skating.

Symbol

To symbolize.

Figure

(Music) A brief melodic or harmonic unit often constituting the basis of a larger phrase or structure.

Symbol

A visible sign or representation of an idea; anything which suggests an idea or quality, or another thing, as by resemblance or by convention; an emblem; a representation; a type; a figure; as, the lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience.
A symbol is a sign included in the idea which it represents, e. g., an actual part chosen to represent the whole, or a lower form or species used as the representative of a higher in the same kind.

Figure

(Logic) Any one of the forms that a syllogism can take, given one of the four possible arrangements of the middle term.

Symbol

Any character used to represent a quantity, an operation, a relation, or an abbreviation.

Figure

(Mathematics) To calculate with numbers
Figured the sum to be nearly a million.

Symbol

An abstract or compendium of faith or doctrine; a creed, or a summary of the articles of religion.

Figure

To make a likeness of; depict.

Symbol

That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty.
They do their work in the days of peace . . . and come to pay their symbol in a war or in a plague.

Figure

To adorn with a design or figures.

Symbol

Share; allotment.
The persons who are to be judged . . . shall all appear to receive their symbol.

Figure

To write a sequence of conventionalized numbers below or above (the bassline) to indicate harmony.

Symbol

An abbreviation standing for the name of an element and consisting of the initial letter of the Latin or New Latin name, or sometimes of the initial letter with a following one; as, C for carbon, Na for sodium (Natrium), Fe for iron (Ferrum), Sn for tin (Stannum), Sb for antimony (Stibium), etc. See the list of names and symbols under Element.

Figure

To embellish with an ornamental pattern.

Symbol

To symbolize.

Figure

To conclude, believe, or predict
I never figured that this would happen.

Symbol

An arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance

Figure

To consider or regard
Figured them as con artists.

Symbol

Something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible;
The eagle is a symbol of the United States

Figure

(Mathematics) To calculate; compute.

Figure

To be or seem important or prominent
A key fact that figures in our understanding of what happened.

Figure

To be pertinent or involved
His advice barely figured in my decision.

Figure

(Informal) To seem reasonable or expected
“I found my keys in the sofa.” “Well, that figures, given that you were sitting there last night.”.

Figure

A drawing or diagram conveying information.

Figure

The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body.
A figure in bronze; a figure cut in marble

Figure

A person or thing representing a certain consciousness.

Figure

The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person.
He cut a sorry figure standing there in the rain.

Figure

(obsolete) Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendour; show.

Figure

A human figure, which dress or corset must fit to; the shape of a human body.

Figure

A numeral.

Figure

A number, an amount.

Figure

A shape.
A geometrical figure, a plane figure, a solid figure

Figure

A visible pattern as in wood or cloth.
The muslin was of a pretty figure.''

Figure

Any complex dance moveW.

Figure

A figure of speech.

Figure

(logic) The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.

Figure

(astrology) A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.

Figure

(music) Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.

Figure

(music) A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a motif; a florid embellishment.

Figure

To calculate, to solve a mathematical problem.

Figure

To come to understand.
I can’t figure if he’s telling the truth or lying.

Figure

To think, to assume, to suppose, to reckon.

Figure

To be reasonable.
It figures that somebody like him would be upset about the situation.

Figure

(intransitive) To enter into; to be a part of.

Figure

(obsolete) To represent by a figure, as to form or mould; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape.

Figure

To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.

Figure

(obsolete) To indicate by numerals.

Figure

To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.

Figure

(obsolete) To prefigure; to foreshow.

Figure

(music) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords.

Figure

(music) To embellish.

Figure

The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance.
Flowers have all exquisite figures.

Figure

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.
A coin that bears the figure of an angel.

Figure

A pattern in cloth, paper, or other manufactured article; a design wrought out in a fabric; as, the muslin was of a pretty figure.

Figure

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.

Figure

The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person; as, a sorry figure.
I made some figure there.
Gentlemen of the best figure in the county.

Figure

Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendor; show.
That he may live in figure and indulgence.

Figure

A character or symbol representing a number; a numeral; a digit; as, 1, 2,3, etc.

Figure

Value, as expressed in numbers; price; as, the goods are estimated or sold at a low figure.
With nineteen thousand a year at the very lowest figure.

Figure

A person, thing, or action, conceived of as analogous to another person, thing, or action, of which it thus becomes a type or representative.
Who is the figure of Him that was to come.

Figure

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.
To represent the imagination under the figure of a wing.

Figure

The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.

Figure

Any one of the several regular steps or movements made by a dancer.

Figure

A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.

Figure

Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.

Figure

A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a musical phrase or motive; a florid embellishment.

Figure

To represent by a figure, as to form or mold; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape.
If love, alas! be pain I bear,
No thought can figure, and no tongue declare.Prior.

Figure

To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.
The vaulty top of heavenFigured quite o'er with burning meteors.

Figure

To indicate by numerals; also, to compute.
As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen.

Figure

To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.
Whose white vestments figure innocence.

Figure

To prefigure; to foreshow.
In this the heaven figures some event.

Figure

To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords.

Figure

To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as, the envoy figured at court.
Sociable, hospitable, eloquent, admired, figuring away brilliantly.

Figure

To calculate; to contrive; to scheme; as, he is figuring to secure the nomination.

Figure

A diagram or picture illustrating textual material;
The area covered can be seen from Figure 2

Figure

Alternative names for the body of a human being;
Leonardo studied the human body
He has a strong physique
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

Figure

One of the elements that collectively form a system of numbers;
0 and 1 are digits

Figure

A model of a bodily form (especially of a person);
He made a figure of Santa Claus

Figure

A well-known or notable person;
They studied all the great names in the history of France
She is an important figure in modern music

Figure

A combination of points and lines and planes that form a visible palpable shape

Figure

An amount of money expressed numerically;
A figure of $17 was suggested

Figure

The impression produced by a person;
He cut a fine figure
A heroic figure

Figure

The property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals;
He had a number of chores to do
The number of parameters is small
The figure was about a thousand

Figure

Language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense

Figure

A unitary percept having structure and coherence that is the object of attention and that stands out against a ground

Figure

A decorative or artistic work;
The coach had a design on the doors

Figure

A predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating;
She made the best score on compulsory figures

Figure

Judge to be probable

Figure

Be or play a part of or in;
Elections figure prominently in every government program
How do the elections figure in the current pattern of internal politics?

Figure

Imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind;
I can't see him on horseback!
I can see what will happen
I can see a risk in this strategy

Figure

Make a mathematical calculation or computation

Figure

Understand;
He didn't figure her

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