From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Figure \Fig"ure\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Figured}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Figuring}.] [F. figurer, L. figurare, fr. figura. See {Figure}, noun]
1. 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.
2. To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.
The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with burning meteors. --Shak.
3. To indicate by numerals; also, to compute.
As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen. --Dryden.
4. To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.
Whose white vestments figure innocence. --Shak.
In this the heaven figures some event. --Shak.
6. (Mus.) (a) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. (b) To embellish.
{To figure out}, to solve; to compute or find the result of.
{To figure up}, to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: problem solving that involves numbers or quantities [syn: {calculation}, {computation}, {reckoning}]
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