figure eight
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A skating figure that carves an 8 in the ice: A pattern or maneuver, especially in figure skating, where the skater's path traces the shape of the number eight.
- A knot having the shape of the numeral 8; tied in a rope that has been passed through a hole or pulley and that prevents the rope from coming loose: A type of stopper knot, also known as a "figure-of-eight knot," used to prevent a rope from unraveling or slipping through a fastening.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Skating):
- The skater's routine began with a perfect figure eight.
- Mastering the figure eight is a fundamental skill in figure skating.
- Noun (Knot):
- Secure the rope by tying a figure eight at the end.
- The climber checked his harness, ensuring the figure eight was properly tied.
Advanced Usage
- "To trace/cut a figure eight": To create or perform the shape of an eight, often used in contexts of movement (e.g., driving, dancing, skating).
- The race car's tires traced a figure eight on the wet track.
- "Figure-eight pattern": Describing any movement or design that follows the shape of an eight.
- The bird flew in a slow, lazy figure-eight pattern.
Variants and Related Words
- Figure-of-eight (noun, chiefly British): An alternative spelling for the knot or the shape.
- He tied a secure figure-of-eight.
- Figure-eight knot (noun): The full term for the specific knot.
- Learn to tie a figure-eight knot for safety.
Synonyms
- Eight (in the context of the shape): The numeral shape itself.
- Stopper knot (for the knot usage): A general term for knots used to prevent a rope from slipping.
Related Phrases
- Figure-eight bend: A related knot used to join two ropes.
- For joining ropes of similar size, use a figure-eight bend.
- Follow-through figure eight: A skating term for a specific variation of the maneuver.
- Her program included a difficult follow-through figure eight.
Related Idioms
- "Do a figure eight": Informally used to describe any winding or looping path resembling the number eight.
- The puppy was so excited it ran around the yard doing figure eights.
Noun
- a skating figure that carves an 8 in the ice
- a knot having the shape of the numeral 8; tied in a rope that has been passed through a hole or pulley and that prevents the rope from coming loose