fig.
 圖
 fig
      n 1: a diagram or picture illustrating textual material; "the
           area covered can be seen from Figure 2" [syn: figure]
      2: Mediterranean tree widely cultivated for its edible fruit
         [syn: common fig, common fig tree, Ficus carica]
      3: a Libyan terrorist group organized in 1995 and aligned with
         al-Qaeda; seeks to radicalize the Libyan government;
         attempted to assassinate Qaddafi [syn: Libyan Islamic
         Fighting Group, Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah
         bi-Libya, Libyan Fighting Group, Libyan Islamic Group]
      4: fleshy sweet pear-shaped yellowish or purple multiple fruit
         eaten fresh or preserved or dried
      [also: figging, figged]
 Fig
    First mentioned in Gen. 3:7. The fig-tree is mentioned (Deut.
    8:8) as one of the valuable products of Palestine. It was a sign
    of peace and prosperity (1 Kings 4:25; Micah 4:4; Zech. 3:10).
    Figs were used medicinally (2 Kings 20:7), and pressed together
    and formed into "cakes" as articles of diet (1 Sam. 30:12; Jer.
    24:2).
      Our Lord's cursing the fig-tree near Bethany (Mark 11:13) has
    occasioned much perplexity from the circumstance, as mentioned
    by the evangelist, that "the time of figs was not yet." The
    explanation of the words, however, lies in the simple fact that
    the fruit of the fig-tree appears before the leaves, and hence
    that if the tree produced leaves it ought also to have had
    fruit. It ought to have had fruit if it had been true to its
    "pretensions," in showing its leaves at this particular season.
    "This tree, so to speak, vaunted itself to be in advance of all
    the other trees, challenged the passer-by that he should come
    and refresh himself with its fruit. Yet when the Lord accepted
    its challenge and drew near, it proved to be but as the others,
    without fruit as they; for indeed, as the evangelist observes,
    the time of figs had not yet arrived. Its fault, if one may use
    the word, lay in its pretensions, in its making a show to run
    before the rest when it did not so indeed" (Trench, Miracles).
      The fig-tree of Palestine (Ficus carica) produces two and
    sometimes three crops of figs in a year, (1) the bikkurah, or
    "early-ripe fig" (Micah 7:1; Isa. 28:4; Hos. 9:10, R.V.), which
    is ripe about the end of June, dropping off as soon as it is
    ripe (Nah. 3:12); (2) the kermus, or "summer fig," then begins
    to be formed, and is ripe about August; and (3) the pag (plural
    "green figs," Cant. 2:13; Gr. olynthos, Rev. 6:13, "the untimely
    fig"), or "winter fig," which ripens in sheltered spots in
    spring.