square

American  

[skwair] / skwɛər /

noun

squares plural

1. a rectangle having all four sides of equal length.

2. anything having this form or a form approximating it, as a city block, rectangular piece of candy, etc.

3. an open area or plaza in a city or town, formed by the meeting or intersecting of two or more streets and often planted with grass, trees, etc., in the center.

   Synonyms:

   park, place

4. a rectangularly shaped area on a game board, as in chess or checkers.

5. a try square, T square, or the like.

6. Mathematics.

   1. the second power of a quantity, expressed as a2 = a × a, where a is the quantity.

   2. a quantity that is the second power of another.

      Four is the square of two.

7. Slang. a person who is ignorant of or uninterested in current fads, ideas, manners, tastes, etc.; an old-fashioned, conventional, or conservative person.

8. Military. (formerly) a body of troops drawn up in quadrilateral form.

9. Building Trades. a unit of measure for roofing materials, equal to 100 square feet (9.3 sq. m).

10. a flower bud of the cotton plant.

11. Nautical. the area at the bottom of a hatchway.

12. Informal. Usually squares. a square meal.

    to get three squares a day.

13. Astrology. a situation in which two heavenly bodies or groups of heavenly bodies have celestial longitudes differing by 90 degrees, an aspect indicative of internal tension with an equally strong and conflicting need for adjustment.

14. Obsolete. a pattern, standard, or example.

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verb (used with object)

squares, present (3rd person singular) squared, past participle, past squaring present participle

1. to reduce to square, rectangular, or cubical form (often followed byoff ).

   He squared off the log to make a timber for his house.

2. to mark out in one or more squares or rectangles.

3. to test with measuring devices for deviation from a right angle, straight line, or plane surface.

4. Mathematics.

   1. to multiply (a number or quantity) by itself; raise to the second power.

   2. to describe or find a square that is equivalent in area to.

      to square a circle.

5. to bring to the form of a right angle or right angles; set at right angles to something else.

6. to even the score of (a contest).

   to square a game.

7. to set (the shoulders and back) in an erect posture so they form an angle similar to a right angle.

8. to make straight, level, or even.

   Square the cloth on the table.

   Synonyms:

   straighten

9. to regulate, as by a standard; adapt; adjust.

   Synonyms:

   rectify

10. to adjust harmoniously or satisfactorily (often followed bywith ).

    How could you square such actions with your conscience?

11. to balance; pay off; settle.

    to square a debt.

12. Slang. to secure a desired action or attitude by means of bribery; bribe.

verb (used without object)

squares, present (3rd person singular) squared, past participle, past squaring present participle

1. to accord or agree (often followed bywith ).

   Your theory does not square with the facts.

2. to settle, even, or balance a matter, as by paying a bill, returning a favor, or tying a score.

3. (of a cotton plant) to form buds.

adjective

squarer, comparative squarest superlative

1. formed by or as a right angle; having some part or parts rectangular.

   a square corner.

2. having four sides and four right angles in two dimensions or three pairs of parallel sides meeting at right angles in three dimensions; having each dimension in the shape of a square or rectangle and all angles right angles.

   a square box.

3. noting any unit of area measurement having the form of a square and designated by a unit of linear measurement forming a side of the square.

   one square foot.

4. noting a system of area measurement in terms of such units.

5. (of an area) equal to a square of a specified length on a side.

   five miles square.

6. at right angles, or perpendicular.

7. Nautical. at right angles to the mast and the keel, as a yard.

8. having a square or rectangular section.

   a square bar.

9. having a solid, sturdy form, especially when characterized by a rectilinear or angular outline.

10. straight, level, or even, as a surface.

11. leaving no balance of debt on either side; having all accounts settled.

    I'm all square with my landlord.

    Synonyms:

    balanced

12. just, fair, or honest.

13. straightforward, direct, or unequivocal.

    Synonyms:

    straight, downright

14. Slang. conventional or conservative in style or outlook; not hip.

adverb

1. so as to be square; in square or rectangular form.

2. at right angles.

3. fairly or honestly.

4. directly or straightforwardly.

verb phrase

1. square off

   1. to assume a posture of defense or offense, as in boxing.

      They squared off for a fight.

   2. to prepare to dispute with another; show signs of opposition or resistance.

      The governor and the legislature are squaring off over the landfill issue.

2. square up. see square up.

3. square around (of a bunter) to shift the feet and body from a conventional batting stance to a position facing the pitcher, with the bat held across and in front of the body.

4. square away

   1. Nautical. to arrange the yards so as to sail before the wind.

   2. to prepare; get ready.

      Square away for dinner.

   3. to assume a position of defense or offense.

      The wrestlers squared away for the first fall.

   4. to organize or complete satisfactorily; put in order.

      I want to square away the work before going on vacation.

idioms

1. square the circle, to strive without chance of success; attempt the impossible.

2. out of square,

   1. not at right angles.

   2. not in agreement; incorrect; irregular.

      The inspector's conclusions are out of square with his earlier report.

3. on the square,

   1. at right angles.

   2. Informal. straightforward; honest; just.

      Their dealings with us have always been on the square.

square British  

/ skwɛə /

noun

1. a plane geometric figure having four equal sides and four right angles Compare rectangle rhombus

2. any object, part, or arrangement having this or a similar shape

   a square of carpet

   a square on a chess board

3. (capital when part of name) an open area in a town, sometimes including the surrounding buildings, which may form a square

4. maths the product of two equal factors; the second power

   9 is the square of 3, written 3²

5. an instrument having two strips of wood, metal, etc, set in the shape of a T or L, used for constructing or testing right angles

6. cricket the closely-cut area in the middle of a ground on which wickets are prepared

7. a body of soldiers drawn up in the form of a square

8. rowing the position of the blade of an oar perpendicular to the surface of the water just before and during a stroke

9. informal a person who is old-fashioned in views, customs, appearance, etc

10. astrology an aspect of about 90° between two planets, etc See conjunction opposition trine

11. obsolete a standard, pattern, or rule

12. indicating a return to the starting-point of an investigation, experiment, etc, because of failure, lack of progress, etc

13. 1. at right angles

    2. on equal terms

    3. informal honestly and openly

    4. slang a phrase identifying someone as a Freemason

       he is on the square

14. 1. not at right angles or not having a right angle

    2. not in order or agreement

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adjective

1. being a square in shape

2. having or forming one or more right angles or being at right angles to something

3. square or rectangular in section

   a square bar

4. 1. (prenominal) denoting a measure of area of any shape

      a circle of four square feet

   2. (immediately postpositive) denoting a square having a specified length on each side

      a board four feet square contains 16 square feet

5. fair and honest (esp in the phrase a square deal )

6. straight, even, or level

   a square surface

7. cricket at right angles to the wicket

   square leg

8. sport in a straight line across the pitch

   a square pass

9. nautical (of the sails of a square-rigger) set at right angles to the keel

10. informal old-fashioned in views, customs, appearance, etc

11. stocky or sturdy

    square shoulders

12. (postpositive) having no remaining debts or accounts to be settled

13. (of a horse's gait) sound, steady, or regular

14. (prenominal) unequivocal or straightforward

    a square contradiction

15. (postpositive) neat and tidy

16. maths (of a matrix) having the same number of rows and columns

17. on equal terms; even in score

18. informal a person or thing that is a misfit, such as an employee in a job for which he is unsuited

verb

1. to make into a square or similar shape

2. maths to raise (a number or quantity) to the second power

3. to test or adjust for deviation with respect to a right angle, plane surface, etc

4. (sometimes foll by off) to divide into squares

5. to position so as to be rectangular, straight, or level

   square the shoulders

6. (sometimes foll by up) to settle (debts, accounts, etc)

7. to level (the score) in a game, etc

8. to agree or cause to agree

   your ideas don't square with mine

9. rowing to turn (an oar) perpendicular to the surface of the water just before commencing a stroke

10. (in canoeing) to turn (a paddle) perpendicular to the direction of the canoe at the commencement of a stroke Compare feather

11. to arrange (something), esp by a corrupt method or come to an arrangement with (someone), as by bribery

12. to attempt the impossible (in reference to the insoluble problem of constructing a square having exactly the same area as a given circle)

adverb

1. in order to be square

2. at right angles

3. sport in a straight line across the pitch

   pass the ball square

4. informal squarely

square Scientific  

/ skwâr /

1. A rectangle having four equal sides.

2. The product that results when a number or quantity is multiplied by itself. The square of 8, for example, is 64.

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1. Of, being, or using units that express the measure of area.

1. To multiply a number, quantity, or expression by itself.

square Cultural  

1. A number multiplied by itself, or raised to the second power. The square of three is nine; the square of nine is eighty-one.

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square More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing square

• back to the drawing board (square one)
• fair and square
• on the square
• round peg in a square hole
• shoot straight (square)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• squareness
  noun
• squarer
  noun
• squarable
  adjective
• squarelike
  adjective
• squarish
  adjective
• unsquarable
  adjective
• unsquared
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• squares
  plural

Adjectives

• squarer
  comparative
• squarest
  superlative

Participles

• squaring
  present
• squared
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• square
  simple
• squares
  simple
• have squared
  perfect
• has squared
  perfect
• am squaring
  progressive
• are squaring
  progressive
• is squaring
  progressive
• have been squaring
  perfect progressive
• has been squaring
  perfect progressive

Past

• squared
  simple
• had squared
  perfect
• was squaring
  progressive
• were squaring
  progressive
• had been squaring
  perfect progressive

Future

• will square
  simple
• will have squared
  perfect
• will be squaring
  progressive
• will have been squaring
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of square

First recorded in 1250–1300; (noun) Middle English, from Old French esquar(r)e, from unrecorded Vulgar Latin exquadra, derivative of unattested exquadrāre ( Latin ex- ex- ¹ + quadrāre to square; see quadrate); (verb) Middle English squaren, from Old French esquarrer, from unrecorded Vulgar Latin exquadrāre; (adjective) Middle English, from Old French esquarré, past participle of esquarrer; (adverb) derivative of the adjective

Explanation

A square is a figure with four equal sides and four right angles. It's a popular shape for windows and record albums, among many other things. Square has many different metaphorical uses. Old towns had square open areas for meetings, so now "town square" means meeting place, even if it's not shaped exactly like a square. If you settle your debts, you square them, and if someone calls you a square, they mean you're boring, rule-abiding, and lame. In math, a square is the product of something multiplied by itself. If you square your plans with someone, you line them up.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

square squares squarer squarest squared squaring

Together they have mapped about 15 square kilometres of critical habitat.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

Sprawling across 7,190 square feet, the lavish abode also boasts a saltwater pool, a tennis court, a greenhouse, an antique barn, a treehouse, and other features.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

Covering about four square kilometers, the enormous stone-walled settlement was divided into separate functional areas.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026

Hot spots remain at a wildfire which has burned across 10 square kilometres of land in the Cairngorms over the last week, according to the fire service.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

He shows us a square photo of them grinning with their cheeks smashed together and points proudly to the ten likes on the picture.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

On a lightly floured surface, unfold the puff pastry and cut it into nine roughly 3-inch squares.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026

State media reported that millions of mourners filled the main boulevards connecting the squares and crowding around the black lorry that carried the coffin of the late supreme leader and four family members.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

How that promise squares with the layoffs is unclear.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

In nearby La Paz, military police and navy personnel guarded the presidential palace and police tactical units were stationed on main squares.

From Barron's ● Jun. 20, 2026

He’d scramble after them, place them quickly back on their squares, and then play the black side.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

His jaw was squarer and facial hair thicker.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

Even the cars' noses are different - Ferrari's narrow and needle-like against the more conventional, squarer ones of Mercedes and Red Bull.

From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2022

He blasted the court’s secret deliberations, complaining: “A horse thief in frontier days would have received a squarer deal.”

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 5, 2021

The squarer the poop, the healthier the wombat.

From Science Magazine ● Jan. 27, 2021

My jaw looked squarer, broader, my neck thicker, with a bulge of Adam’s apple in the center.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

America’s most middlebrow casual restaurant, with America’s squarest CEO, selling fried cheese and margaritas and fajita plates that you can eat off for days.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2025

Who jorts have been claimed by — punk rockers, pop stars and rappers, the squarest middle-aged men on weekends — is simply the narrative sewn on top of the real narrative.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2023

“He thought I was the squarest person and replied, ‘What planet are you from?’”

From Fox News ● Jun. 6, 2019

Her emeralds are the squarest, her mink the darkest.

From Time Magazine Archive

One of them, a very short older man with the squarest, broadest face of orange-brown I’d ever seen, said something to them and they all began leaving.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

The ant experiences acceleration exceeding 1300 meters per second squared before becoming tangled in the web.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 26, 2026

"I've had to sort a huge carpet for the swimming pool, which is around 170 metres squared."

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

And she adds: “The court’s apparently oblivious insistence to the contrary today cannot be squared with what Callais said on its face just over one month ago.”

From Slate ● Jun. 3, 2026

“But I think the market has gone to optimism squared, and I think we are a little bit out over the skis at this point.”

From Barron's ● Apr. 16, 2026

Josie winced, but she still squared her shoulders and said, “Then if we have to go into the maze, we have to go into the maze.”

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The process has never been tested, and right now former state Rep. Charles Booker, a Democrat, and GOP Rep. Andy Barr are squaring off for the seat McConnell is abandoning.

From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026

It was hard squaring the hulking mass of midshipmen who would nearly trample me at Herndon with these two polite teenagers prone to nervous laughter.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

OpenAI was squaring off against its largest shareholder Microsoft.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026

Investors, Mr Stanley said, are "squaring up" as they grapple with uncertainty about the state of the economy, and whether the Fed will be forced to keep interest rates higher if inflation heats up.

From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2025

He and George glowered at each other, their breaths coming out hot and fast from their noses like two polar bears squaring off in a fight.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• area
• center
• circle
• green
• plaza
• space