figure eight meaning: definition, quotations

figure eight

nounalso spelled figure-eight

UK /ˌfɪɡəɹˈeɪt/

The shape consisting of two circles or ovals joined together at one point, resembling the numeral 8.

A maneuver in which one rides, skates, or otherwise traces a path that forms a figure eight.

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.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 Jun 2018:

A variety of puffer fish (Tetraodontidae).

verb

To move or cause to move in a figure eight pattern.

For two minutes we figure-eighted back and forth across the face of the mountain and then popped out right beside the sidewalk café.1940, Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely, Penguin, published 2010, page 61:
When he has been circled or figure-eighted enough times, he will become convinced that he is not to be asked to take the fence.1974, Harold Black, Manual of Horsemanship:

2 more examples

To prevent the hook from tumbling and coming out of the hoisting eye, a short lanyard on the pea of the counterbalance is figure-eighted around the shank and tip.1980, Naval Education and Training Program Development Center, Seaman, page 87:
Back and forth across the dim street he gracefully figure-eighted, using only his narrow hips and occasionally one hand to direct the bicycle.2002, Prudence Mackintosh, Retreads, →ISBN, page 59:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — authors: page histories for figure eight and figure-eight.