figurative
    adj 1: (used of the meanings of words or text) not literal;
           using figures of speech; "figurative language" [syn:
           figurative, nonliteral] [ant: literal]
    2: consisting of or forming human or animal figures; "a figural
       design"; "the figurative art of the humanistic tradition"-
       Herbert Read [syn: figural, figurative]

Figurate \Fig"ur*ate\, a. [L. figuratus, p. p. of figurare. See
   Figure.]
   1. Of a definite form or figure.
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            Plants are all figurate and determinate, which
            inanimate bodies are not.             --Bacon.
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   2. Figurative; metaphorical. [Obs.] --Bale.
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   3. (Mus.) Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by
      the freer melodic movement of one or more parts or voices
      in the harmony; as, figurate counterpoint or descant.
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   Figurate counterpoint or Figurate descant (Mus.), that
      which is not simple, or in which the parts do not move
      together tone for tone, but in which freer movement of one
      or more parts mingles passing discords with the harmony;
      -- called also figural, figurative, and figured
      counterpoint or descant (although the term figured is
      more commonly applied to a bass with numerals written
      above or below to indicate the other notes of the
      harmony).

   Figurate numbers (Math.), numbers, or series of numbers,
      formed from any arithmetical progression in which the
      first term is a unit, and the difference a whole number,
      by taking the first term, and the sums of the first two,
      first three, first four, etc., as the successive terms of
      a new series, from which another may be formed in the same
      manner, and so on, the numbers in the resulting series
      being such that points representing them are capable of
      symmetrical arrangement in different geometrical figures,
      as triangles, squares, pentagons, etc.

   Note: In the following example, the two lower lines are
         composed of figurate numbers, those in the second line
         being triangular, and represented thus:
         . 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. . . . 1, 3, 6, 10, etc. . . . . . .
         . etc. 1, 4, 10, 20, etc . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Figurative \Fig"ur*a*tive\, a. [L. figurativus: cf. F.
   figuratif. See Figurative.]
   1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical;
      representative.
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            This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by
            God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the
            true glory of a more divine sanctity. --Hooker.
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   2. Used in a sense that is tropical, as a metaphor; not
      literal; -- applied to words and expressions.
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   3. Abounding in figures of speech; flowery; florid; as, a
      highly figurative description.
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   4. Relating to the representation of form or figure by
      drawing, carving, etc. See Figure, n., 2.
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            They belonged to a nation dedicated to the
            figurative arts, and they wrote for a public
            familiar with painted form.           --J. A.
                                                  Symonds.
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   Figurative counterpoint or Figurative descant. See under
      Figurate. -- Fig"ur*a*tive*ly, adv. --
      Fig"ur*a*tive*ness, n.
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