[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

figurate \fig"urate\, 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.

   note: 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
see also:
figure figurate counterpoint figurate descant figural figurative figured counterpoint 
descant figurate numbers 

Figurate >> F Words
Figurate, definition of term: Figurate
figurate_pag1.html

Descant >> D Words
Descant, definition of term: Descant
descant_pag1.html