fig

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈfig 

1

a

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

b

: a tree bearing figs : a ficus tree

especially : a widely cultivated tree (F. carica) that produces edible figs see also strangler fig, weeping fig compare banyan, peepul, rubber plant

2

: a worthless trifle : the least bit

doesn't care a fig

Illustration of fig

• fig 1

fig

2 of 3

noun (2)

: dress, array

a young woman in dazzling royal full fig

—Mollie Panter-Downes

fig

3 of 3

abbreviation

figurative; figuratively; figure

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• beans
• bubkes
• bupkes
• bupkus
• continental
• damn
• darn
• durn
• diddly [slang]
• diddly-squat [slang]
• doodley-squat
• doodly-squat
• ghost
• hoot
• iota
• jot
• lick
• modicum
• rap
• squat [slang]
• syllable
• tittle
• whit
• whoop

Examples of fig in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Jams and jellies: Spread on fig, apricot, or pepper jelly for a sweet or spicy touch. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024

Flavors of Mission fig, cherry, rising brioche, and fennel pollen roll over the palate, all bathed in subtle acidity. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2024

Emmett Basket Planter This seagrass basket planter is perfect for a living room or sunroom and ideal for a taller plant, like a fiddle-leaf fig tree. —Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Mar. 2024

Don’t fertilize fig trees, pomegranate, pineapple guava, tropical guava and loquat, but do mulch them with a 3-inch or thicker layer of coarse wood mulch. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024

Across the avenue from the school, standing between a church and its nursery school, there’s an ancient fig tree. —Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2024

On top is a dollop of sweet fig jam and shavings of Manuel Lombardi Conciato Romano, or what many refer to as the oldest variety of cheese in the world. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024

Crème de brie, prosciutto, carrot sticks, grapes, olives, and fig jam with woven wheat crackers. —Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 22 Mar. 2024

With the most recent Costco stock lists including towering topical varieties such as Majesty Palm and White Bird of Paradise at 6-8 feet and only $27.99, there have also been reports of fiddle leaf figs ranging from $15-$50. —Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

fig, verb, to adorn

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1835, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fig

• fig leaf
• fig wasp
• not care/give a fig
• sacred fig
• strangler fig
• weeping fig

Kids Definition

fig

noun

ˈfig

: an oblong or pear-shaped fruit that grows on a tree related to the mulberries

also : a tree bearing figs

Medical Definition

fig

1 of 2 noun

ˈfig 

1

: an oblong or pear-shaped fruit that is a syconium

especially : the edible fruit of a widely cultivated tree (Ficus carica) that has laxative qualities

2

: any of a genus (Ficus) of trees of the mulberry family that produce figs

fig

2 of 2 abbreviation

figure