Definition

1. 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

1. a skating figure that carves an 8 in the ice
2. 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