In wood, figure refers to the general appearance of wood, as seen on a longitudinal surface (side-grain), either in the tangential or the radial surfaces.
Description
In wood, figure refers to the appearance of wood, as seen on a longitudinal surface (side-grain). A figured wood is not plain.
The figure of a particular piece of wood is, in part, due to its grain and, in part, due to the cut, or to innate properties of the wood.
Types A few of the tropical hardwoods, like the rosewoods, may have a unique figure. Types of figure include:
angel step bear scratches bird's eye blister burl curl ribbon curl dimple fiddleback flame wide flame ghost pin stripe quilted spalted tiger stripe
References