figure eight

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌfɪɡəɹˈeɪt/

Noun

figure eight (plural figure eights)

1. The shape consisting of two circles or ovals joined together at one point, resembling the numeral 8.
2. A maneuver in which one rides, skates, or otherwise traces a path that forms a figure eight.
   • 2018 February, Robert Draper, “They are Watching You—and Everything Else on the Planet: Technology and Our Increasing Demand for Security have Put Us All under Surveillance. Is Privacy Becoming just a Memory?”, in National Geographic‎, Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 June 2018:

     The bikers pop wheelies and execute speedy figure eights along the busy street. Still, something more purposeful than joyriding would seem to be on their minds.

3. A variety of puffer fish (Tetraodontidae).

Synonyms

• figure of eight

Translations

figure eight — see figure of eight

Verb

figure eight (third-person singular simple present figure eights, present participle figure eighting, simple past and past participle figure eighted)

1. Alternative form of figure-eight.
   • 1916, Poultney Bigelow, James Henry Worman, Albert Britt, Outing - Volume 68, page 492:

     The four and a half ounce rod doubled and dipped and figure eighted while the line literally smoked.

   • 1980, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Omnibus Territorial Legislation--1980: Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Ninety-sixth Congress:

     The giant drifter is stowed in the foc'sl in the rolled condition, being figure eighted against the side of the bow on hooks.

   • 1983, Surgery Operative Practice Manual: VM COLL 620 1983-1984, page 90:

     An orthopedic wire is figure eighted around the Kirschner wire and pulled tight.

   • 1997, Craven Kurz, Contemporary Lingual Orthodontics, page 83:

     The six anterior teeth are "figure eighted" together as well and retraced "en masse."