cipher vs figure

cipher

noun
  • A numeric character. 

  • Any text character. 

  • A combination or interweaving of letters, as the initials of a name. 

  • A fault in an organ valve which causes a pipe to sound continuously without the key having been pressed. 

  • The path (usually circular) shared cannabis takes through a group, an occasion of cannabis smoking. 

  • Someone or something of no importance. 

  • A method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning. 

  • A cryptographic system using an algorithm that converts letters or sequences of bits into ciphertext. 

  • A hip-hop jam session. 

  • Ciphertext; a message concealed via a cipher. 

  • A grouping of three digits in a number, especially when delimited by commas or periods 

verb
  • Of an organ pipe: to sound independent of the organ. 

  • To write in code or cipher. 

figure

noun
  • A numeral. 

  • A visible pattern as in wood or cloth. 

  • A number, an amount. 

  • A drawing or diagram conveying information. 

  • A human figure, which dress or corset must fit to; the shape of a human body. 

  • A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a motif; a florid embellishment. 

  • The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term. 

  • A figure of speech. 

  • The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person. 

  • A person or thing representing a certain consciousness. 

  • A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses. 

  • Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression. 

  • The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body. 

  • A shape. 

  • Any complex dance moveᵂ. 

verb
  • To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize. 

  • To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. 

  • To calculate, to solve a mathematical problem. 

  • To enter into; to be a part of. 

  • To think, to assume, to suppose, to reckon. 

  • To embellish with design; to adorn with figures. 

  • To embellish. 

  • To come to understand. 

  • To be reasonable. 

How often have the words cipher and figure occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )