fig

¹fig

noun \ˈfig\

Definition of FIG

1

a : an oblong or pear-shaped syconium fruit of a tree (genus Ficus) of the mulberry family

b : a tree bearing figs; especially : a widely cultivated tree (F. carica) that produces edible figs

2

: a worthless trifle : the least bit <doesn't care a fig>

Illustration of FIG

Origin of FIG

Middle English fige, from Anglo-French, from Old Occitan figa, from Vulgar Latin *fica, from Latin ficus fig tree, fig

First Known Use: 13th century

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with FIG

big, brig, cig, dig, gig, grig, jig, pig, prig, rig, sprig, swig, trig, twig, vig, Whig, wig, zig

²fig

noun

Definition of FIG

: dress, array <a young woman in dazzling royal full fig — Mollie Panter-Downes>

Origin of FIG

fig, verb, to adorn

First Known Use: 1835

³fig

abbreviation

Definition of FIG

figurative; figuratively; figure

fig

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any plant of the genus Ficus, in the mulberry family, especially Ficus carica, the common fig. Yielding the well-known figs of commerce, F. carica is native to an area from Asiatic Turkey to northern India, but natural seedlings grow in most Mediterranean countries, where figs are used extensively, both fresh and dried. It is a bush or small tree with broad, rough, deciduous leaves (see deciduous tree). Hundreds of different varieties are grown in various parts of the world. The fig was one of the first fruit trees to come under cultivation. Its fruit contains significant amounts of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron.