figuring n : problem solving that involves numbers or quantities [syn: calculation, computation, reckoning]

Figure \Fig"ure\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Figured; p. pr. & vb. n. Figuring.] [F. figurer, L. figurare, fr. figura. See Figure, n.]
1. To represent by a figure, as to form or mold; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape. If love, alas! be pain I bear, No thought can figure, and no tongue declare.Prior.
2. To embellish with design; to adorn with figures. The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with burning meteors. --Shak.
3. To indicate by numerals; also, to compute. As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen. --Dryden.
4. To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize. Whose white vestments figure innocence. --Shak.
5. To prefigure; to foreshow. In this the heaven figures some event. --Shak.
6. (Mus.) (a) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. (b) To embellish. To figure out, to solve; to compute or find the result of. To figure up, to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of.

See more meaning on Figuring...

Figuring is the process of final polishing of an optical surface to remove imperfections or modify the surface curvature to achieve the shape required for a given application.

An example of figuring is that used in reflecting telescope primary mirrors in a process of converting the smooth spherical mirror produced by earlier stages into the aspherical or parabolic shapes needed to form the correct image. It is done by applying different polishing stroke lengths with different sized and shaped tools. Manual figuring is a very laborious process, since the heat produced by polishing has to be allowed to dissipate before the shape of the mirror can be measured again, and the places for later polishing selected. Testing of the figure is usually done by a Foucault knife-edge test or Ronchi test in amateur telescope making and with very sophisticated null testers on research telescope optics.

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