Definition

1. Noun:
   • A soft, sweet fruit: A fleshy, pear-shaped fruit, typically with many small seeds, that grows on the fig tree (Ficus carica). It can be yellowish, green, purple, or black and is eaten fresh, dried, or preserved.
   • The fig tree: A small tree or large shrub of the mulberry family, native to the Mediterranean and western Asia, cultivated for its edible fruit.
   • A minimal amount; something of little value: Used in negative phrases to denote something considered worthless or insignificant.
   • A diagram or illustration: (Abbreviation of figure) A drawing, diagram, or chart used to explain or illustrate text in a book or document.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Fruit):
  • She packed a fresh fig and some cheese for her lunch.
  • Dried figs are a good source of fiber.
• Noun (Tree):
  • A large fig tree shaded the patio.
• Noun (Minimal value):
  • I don't care a fig about their opinion.
  • His promise wasn't worth a fig.
• Noun (Diagram/Figure):
  • The process is shown in fig. 3 on page 15.

Advanced Usage

• "not to care/give a fig (for someone/something)": To not care at all about someone or something.
  • He doesn't give a fig for formalities.
• "in full fig": Dressed in one's best or most formal clothes. (This usage is now rare and somewhat archaic.)
  • They arrived at the ball in full fig.

Variants and Related Words

• Fig leaf (n):
  • A leaf of a fig tree, traditionally used in art to conceal nudity.
  • Something intended to conceal a problem or embarrassment in a token or inadequate way.
• Fig tree (n): The tree that bears figs.
• Figgy (adj): Resembling or containing figs (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Fruit: (for the edible fruit)
• Figure: (for the diagram, as an abbreviation)
• Iota, jot, whit: (for the sense of a minimal amount, as in "not worth a fig")

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Fig out (v): To dress someone or something smartly or elaborately. (Archaic)
  • She was figged out in her finest gown for the occasion.

Related Idioms

• "Adam and fig leaf": A reference to the biblical story, often used to denote a modest covering or a superficial concealment.
  • Their agreement was an Adam and fig leaf, hiding the deep divisions between them.

Noun

1. fleshy sweet pear-shaped yellowish or purple multiple fruit eaten fresh or preserved or dried
2. a Libyan terrorist group organized in 1995 and aligned with al-Qaeda; seeks to radicalize the Libyan government; attempted to assassinate Qaddafi
3. Mediterranean tree widely cultivated for its edible fruit
4. a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
   • the area covered can be seen from Figure 2