a. [ L. figuratus, p. p. of figurare. See Figure. ] 1. Of a definite form or figure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Plants are all figurate and determinate, which inanimate bodies are not. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Figurative; metaphorical. [ Obs. ] Bale. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freer melodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as, figurate counterpoint or descant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Figurate counterpoint or
Figurate descant (Mus.), that which is not simple, or in which the parts do not move together tone for tone, but in which freer movement of one or more parts mingles passing discords with the harmony; -- called also figural, figurative, and figured counterpoint or descant (although the term figured is more commonly applied to a bass with numerals written above or below to indicate the other notes of the harmony). --
Figurate numbers (Math.), numbers, or series of numbers, formed from any arithmetical progression in which the first term is a unit, and the difference a whole number, by taking the first term, and the sums of the first two, first three, first four, etc., as the successive terms of a new series, from which another may be formed in the same manner, and so on, the numbers in the resulting series being such that points representing them are capable of symmetrical arrangement in different geometrical figures, as triangles, squares, pentagons, etc. In the following example, the two lower lines are composed of figurate numbers, those in the second line being triangular, and represented thus: --
. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. . . . 1, 3, 6, 10, etc. . . . . . . . etc. 1, 4, 10, 20, etc . . . . . . . . . . . .
[ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a determinate form. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a figurate manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. figuratio. ] 1. The act of giving figure or determinate form; determination to a certain form. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) Mixture of concords and discords. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. figurativus: cf. F. figuratif. See Figurative. ] 1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative. [ 1913 Webster ]

This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Used in a sense that is tropical, as a metaphor; not literal; -- applied to words and expressions. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Abounding in figures of speech; flowery; florid; as, a highly figurative description. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Relating to the representation of form or figure by drawing, carving, etc. See Figure, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

They belonged to a nation dedicated to the figurative arts, and they wrote for a public familiar with painted form. J. A. Symonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

Figurative counterpoint or
Figurative descant. See under Figurate.

-- Fig"ur*a*tive*ly, adv. -- Fig"ur*a*tive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]