[Math] difference between a geometric shape and a geometric figure

Question

Many writers seem to use the words "Shape" and "Figure" interchangeably, and few give definitions of these terms. Is there a difference, and if so what is it ?

Answer 1

The definitions suffice sometimes to tell the difference. Taken from Wikipedia and Mathwords, the following are the definitions of Shape and Figure:

From Wikipedia

A geometric shape is the geometric information which remains when location, scale, orientation and reflection are removed from the description of a geometric object.

From Mathwords

A geometric figure is any set of points on a plane or in space.

But most often they can be use differently according to context or circumstances, so being a reader it depends on the conclusive mind of yours and context that what does these terms mean, but prefer these if you have got nothing as information.