柯斯林高阶词典告诉你答案:
chart: A chartis a diagram, picture, or graph which is intended to make information easier to understand. 意思是chart可以是diagram,可以是picture也可以是graph。
diagram: A diagramis a simple drawing which consists mainly of lines and is used, for example, to explain how a machine works. 意思是diagram是指主要包含线的简单绘图,例如解释机器如何工作的图形。 电路图也算diagram。
graph:A graphis a mathematical diagram which shows the relationship between two or more sets of numbers or measurements. 意思是graph是数学化的diagram,展示两个或两个以上的数字集。
figure:In books and magazines, the diagrams which help to show or explain information are referred to as figures. 意思是主要是指在书中和杂志中的diagram,和文字以及上下文配套解释的绘图。If you look at a world map (see Figure 1) you can identify the major wine-producing regions...
查一查世界地图(见图1),就能找到主要的葡萄酒产区。
Figure 1.15 shows which provinces lost populations between 1910 and 1920.
表 1.15 显示出哪些省份在 1910 至 1920 年间人口减少了。
picture: A pictureconsists of lines and shapes which are drawn, painted, or printed on a surface and show a person, thing, or scene. 意思是主要是包含各种线和形状的,绘制或打印上表面,展现了一个人,东西或者场景的图像。
大概的语义范围如下:Figure比较特殊,一般在杂志和书中都会使用figure一词。