figure

Compared meaning: the shape of something (noun).

比较义项：形状（名词）。

• figure 本词

  Refers to an outline or silhouette, often of a person or a simple drawing; concrete and visual, common in everyday descriptions.

  指轮廓或剪影，常用于人的体形或简笔画；用法具体、直观，常见于日常描述。

  In the fog, she could only make out a dark figure standing by the gate.

  在雾中，她只能看出大门旁站着一个黑色的身影。

• form

  Refers to the overall structure or shape of something, often more abstract or formal; used for objects, bodies, or artistic works.

  指某物的整体结构或造型，语气更抽象、正式；可用于物体、身体或艺术作品。

  The sculpture's smooth, rounded form seemed to change as the light shifted.

  这座雕塑光滑圆润的造型随着光线变化而显得不断变化。

Both can mean the shape of something. Figure means an outline or silhouette, often of a person or a drawing; concrete and visual. Form means the overall structure or shape, more abstract, used for objects, bodies, or art. Not compared: form as a document.

在“形状”这一义项上，figure 和 form 都可指物体的外观轮廓，但 figure 更强调轮廓线条本身，常用于人体或简笔画；form 更强调整体结构或造型，语气更正式、抽象。这里不比较 form 的“表格”义（如例句中的 fill out this form）。

Compared meaning: to work out a numerical answer (verb).

比较义项：计算、算出数值结果（动词）。

• calculate

  The neutral, default verb for working out a numerical answer through a defined method; used in everyday and technical contexts alike, with broad collocations like calculate the cost, distance, or risk.

  中性、最常用的词，指按一定方法算出数值结果；日常和专业语境都适用，搭配广泛，如 calculate the cost（计算费用）、distance（距离）、risk（风险）。

  Can you calculate how much we'll save if we buy in bulk?

  你能算一算如果我们大批量购买能省下多少钱吗？

• figure 本词

  Informal, especially in American English; suggests a quick, often rough mental estimate, and is commonly used alone in casual speech rather than in formal writing.

  较为口语化，尤其常见于美式英语；常指快速、粗略的心算估计，日常口语中常单独使用，较少出现在正式书面语中。

  I figured the tip in my head before the bill arrived.

  账单送来之前，我心里已经算好了小费。

• compute

  More formal or technical, often implying a more complex, precise calculation, and commonly associated with machines, computers, or scientific and mathematical work.

  更正式、技术性更强，常指更复杂或精确的运算，也常与机器、计算机或科学、数学工作相关联。

  The system computes each flight path using thousands of data points.

  该系统利用成千上万个数据点来计算出每一条飞行路径。

All three mean to work out a number. Calculate is neutral, used in everyday and technical contexts. Figure is informal, a quick rough guess. Compute is formal, for complex work, often with machines. Not compared: figure as a noun, or 'figure out'.

这三个词在“用数字/方法算出结果”这个意思上很接近，但语域和使用场合不同：calculate 中性通用，compute 更正式、常与机器或复杂运算相关，figure 偏口语、常指粗略估算。这里不比较 figure 作名词“数字、图形”或短语“figure out（弄明白）”的用法，也不比较 compute 之外的其他引申义。

Compared meaning: to work out a number by calculating (verb).

比较义项：计算（动词）。

• calculate

  The neutral, most common verb for working out a numerical answer; used in everyday and technical contexts alike, with no special tone.

  最中性、最常用的“计算”一词，日常和专业场合都适用，没有特殊语气。

  Please calculate the total bill before we leave the restaurant tonight.

  请在我们今晚离开餐厅之前，计算出账单总额。

• figure 本词

  More informal, especially in American English; suggests a quick, casual calculation, often done mentally rather than carefully or formally.

  语气更口语化，尤其在美式英语中常见；暗示一种迅速、随意的心算，而不是严谨、正式的计算。

  Can you figure the tip quickly without using your phone's calculator?

  你能不用手机计算器，很快算出小费吗？

• compute

  More formal and technical; implies a systematic or complex calculation, often carried out by a machine, computer, or precise method.

  更正式、技术性更强；暗示系统性或复杂的运算，常由机器、计算机或精确方法完成。

  The program will automatically compute your monthly interest rate for you.

  这个程序会自动为你计算出每月的利率。

• reckon

  In this sense, somewhat old-fashioned or formal/dialectal, as in reckoning up a sum by hand; its far more common modern use means to think or guess, not calculate.

  在“计算”这一意义上略显过时或带有方言或书面语色彩，如手工“合计”一笔账；它在现代更常见的用法是“认为、猜想”，而不是计算。

  The old navigator could reckon the ship's position using only the stars.

  这位老领航员只凭星星就能算出船的位置。

All four can mean to work out a number. Calculate is the neutral, most common word. Figure is informal, suggesting a quick, mental calculation. Compute is formal, often for machine calculations. Reckon here is old-fashioned; it often means to think or guess.

这四个词在“用数字或方法计算出结果”这一意义上相近，但语域和使用习惯不同：calculate是最常用、最中性的说法；figure更口语化，常见于非正式场合；compute偏正式，常用于数学、科学或计算机系统的运算；reckon在“计算”这一意义上略显过时或带有书面或方言语气，而且它更常见的用法是表示“认为、猜想”，这里不比较reckon表示“认为”的意思。