square

noun

1》 a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles.

    ↘something that is the shape of a square or a cube.

    ↘historical a body of infantry drawn up in rectangular form.

2》 an open, typically four-sided, area surrounded by buildings.

    ↘Cricket a closer-cut area at the centre of a ground, any strip of which may be prepared as a wicket.

    ↘an area within a military barracks or camp used for drill.

    ↘US a block of buildings bounded by four streets.

3》 the product of a number multiplied by itself.

4》 an L-shaped or T-shaped instrument used for obtaining or testing right angles.

5》 informal a person considered to be old-fashioned or boringly conventional.

6》 a unit of 100 square ft used as a measure of flooring, roofing, etc.

7》 Astrology an aspect of 90° (one quarter of a circle).

adjective

1》 having the shape or approximate shape of a square.

    ↘having or forming a right angle, exactly or approximately.

2》 denoting a unit of measurement equal to the area of a square whose side is of the unit specified.

    ↘[postposition] denoting the length of each side of a square shape or object.

3》 at right angles.

    ↘Cricket & Soccer in a direction transversely across the field or pitch.

4》 broad and solid in shape.

5》 level or parallel.

    ↘properly arranged.

    ↘on even terms.

6》 fair and honest.

7》 informal old-fashioned or boringly conventional.

8》 (of rhythm) simple and straightforward.

adverb

1》 directly; straight.

2》 Cricket & Soccer in a direction transversely across the field or pitch.

verb

1》 make square or rectangular.

    ↘[usu. as adjective squared] mark out in squares.

2》 multiply (a number) by itself.

3》 make or be compatible.

4》 balance (an account) or settle (a bill or debt).

    ↘make the score of (a match or game) even.

5》 informal secure the help or acquiescence of (someone), especially by offering an inducement.

6》 bring (one's shoulders) into a position in which they appear square and broad.

7》 Sailing set (a yard or other part of a ship) at right angles to the keel or other point of reference.

8》 Astrology (of a planet) have a square aspect with (another planet or position).

Phrases

back to (or at) square one informal back to where one started, with no progress having been made.

on the square

1》 informal honest; straightforward.

2》 having membership of the Freemasons.

out of square not at right angles.

square the circle

1》 construct a square equal in area to a given circle (a problem incapable of a purely geometrical solution).

2》 do something considered to be impossible.

a square deal see deal¹.

a square peg in a round hole see peg.

Phrasal verbs

square something away N. Amer. deal with something in a satisfactory way.

square off

1》 N. Amer. another way of saying square up below.

2》 Austral./NZ settle a difference.

square someone off Austral./NZ placate someone.

square up

1》 assume the attitude of a person about to fight.

2》 (square up to) face and tackle (a difficulty) resolutely.

Derivatives

squareness noun

squarer noun

squarish adjective

Origin

ME: shortening of OFr. esquare (n.), esquarre (past participle), esquarrer (v.), based on L. quadra 'square'.