square
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square (skwer)
noun
- a plane figure having four equal sides and four right angles
- anything having or approximating this shape a square of cloth
- any of the spaces on a board for chess, checkers, etc.
- ☆ block ()
- an open area bounded by, or at the intersection of, several streets, usually used as a park, plaza, etc.
- buildings surrounding such an area
- an instrument having two sides that form an angle of 90 degrees, used for drawing or testing right angles
- a solid piece with at least one face that is a square to cut a cake into squares
- the product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself 9 is the square of 3
- ☆ Informal a square meal three squares a day
- ☆ Slang a person who is square ()
Etymology: ME < OFr esquarre < VL *exquadra < *exquadrare, to make square < L ex, out + quadrare, to square < quadrus, a square < base of quattuor, four
transitive verb squared, squaring squar′·ing
- to make into a square; make square
- to make into any rectangle
- to test or adjust with regard to straightness or evenness to square a surface with a straightedge
- to bring to or near to the form of a right angle to square one's shoulders
- to settle; adjust; make right or even to square accounts
- to adjust or settle the accounts of to square oneself with another
- to make equal to square the score of a game
- to bring into agreement; make conform to square a statement with the facts
- to mark off (a surface) in a series of connected squares
- to bring into the correct position, as with reference to a line, course, etc.
- to multiply (a number or quantity) by itself
- to determine the square that is equal in area to (a figure)
- Slang to bribe
Etymology: ME squaren < OFr esquarrer < VL *exquadrare
intransitive verb
Etymology: ME < OFr esquarre, pp. of esquarrer
adjective squarer squar′er, squarest squar′·est
- having four equal sides and four right angles
- more or less cubical; rectangular and three-dimensional, as a box
- forming a right angle, or having a rectangular part or parts
- correctly adjusted or positioned; straight, level, even, etc.
- leaving no balance; balanced; even
- even in score; tied
- just; fair; honest
- clear; direct; straightforward; unequivocal a square refusal
- designating or of a unit of surface measure in the form of a square having sides of a specified length
- given or stated in terms of such surface measure
- having a shape broad for its length or height, with a solid, sturdy appearance, and somewhat rectangular or rectilinear a square jaw
- square or rectangular in cross section, as some files
- designating a number that is the product of another number multiplied by itself
- ☆ Informal satisfying; solid; substantial a square meal
- ☆ Slang not conversant with the current fads, styles, slang, etc.; old-fashioned, unsophisticated, conservative, etc.
- Naut. at right angles to the keel and mast, as the yards of a square-rigged ship
Related Forms:
- squarely square′ly adverb
- squareness square′·ness noun
on the square
- at right angles (to something specified)
- Informal honest(ly), fair(ly), genuine(ly), etc.
out of square
- not at right angles (with something specified)
- Informal not in harmony, order, or agreement
square away
- to bring a ship's yards around so as to sail directly before the wind
- square off
- Informal to get ready; put in order
square off
☆square oneself
☆square the circle
- to construct or find a square equal in area to a given circle: an insoluble problem in Euclidean geometry
- to do or attempt something that seems impossible
square up
- to make a settlement, as by paying, balancing accounts, etc.
- to assume a posture of opposition (to an adversary)
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alternate definitions:
square
modif.
Having right angles
right-angled, four-sided, equal-sided, foursquare, squared, equilateral, rectangular, rectilinear. *Old-fashioned
dated, stuffy, conventional, conformist, boring; see also conservative, dull 3, old-fashioned.
square
n.
A rectangle
equal-sided rectangle, plane figure, rectilinear plane; see rectangle.A park
city center, civic center, intersection, plaza, traffic circle, open space, recreational area; see also park 1.
on the square
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Preposition: on
- underlay: Place the black felt square on the white underlay and smooth it out.
Adjective modifier
- 10km: The aims of the survey are: To establish presence/absence of each species of wild deer in 10km squares in the UK.
Converse of object
- overlook: Best room: number one overlooking the Georgian square.
Modifies a noun
- meter: Here, there will be over 50,000 square meters of such uses.
Noun used with modifier
- km: The third element was a field study of habitats, flora and fauna on a random sample of paired 1 km squares.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
When I have pointed out one corner of a square to anyoneand he doesnotcome back withthe other three, I will not point it out to him a second time.
Heavenly weather. If life was always like that.Cricket weather. Sit around under sunshades.Over after over. Out. They can't play it here. Still,Captain Buller broke a window in Kildare Street Club with a slog to square leg.
So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan; You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man; An''ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, with your 'ayrick 'ead of 'airö You big black boundin' beggaröfor you broke a British square!
Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Cite this page:
MLA Style
"square." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/square>
APA Style
square. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/square

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