magic square

American  

noun

1. a square containing integers arranged in an equal number of rows and columns so that the sum of the integers in any row, column, or diagonal is the same.

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magic square British  

noun

1. a square array of rows of integers arranged so that the sum of the integers is the same when taken vertically, horizontally, or diagonally

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magic square Scientific  

1. A square that contains numbers arranged in equal rows and columns such that the sum of each row, column, and sometimes diagonal is the same.

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Etymology

Origin of magic square

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

magic square

The work “is a beautiful and simple direct implementation of the Mermin-Peres magic square game,” says Arul Lakshminarayan of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, who was not involved in the experimental demonstration.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 25, 2022

You don’t go to the films of John Waters for a tidy three-act structure, and you don’t go to his essays for elements locking into place with the organizational splendor of a magic square.

From New York Times ● May 3, 2022

Their magic square of Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah is fluid and ruthless enough to cut through any defence.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 7, 2017

To underscore that point, MAM launched on Tuesday April 1 with a brace of videos from rising math stand-up star Ethan Brown—a mere 9th grader—on customized magic square construction:

From Scientific American ● Apr. 16, 2014

Part of me was angry at Liz for lying, part of me wanted her to come back, and the other part just wanted the magic square book.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine