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  • T square
    T square
    noun
    a T -shaped ruler, used primarily in mechanical drawing, having a short crosspiece that slides along the edge of the drawing board as a guide to the perpendicular longer section in making parallel lines, right angles, etc., and as a support for triangles.
  • T-square
    T-square
    noun
    a T-shaped ruler used in mechanical drawing, consisting of a short crosspiece, which slides along the edge of the drawing board, and a long horizontal piece: used for drawing horizontal lines and to support set squares when drawing vertical and inclined lines
Synonyms

T square

American  

noun

  1. a T -shaped ruler, used primarily in mechanical drawing, having a short crosspiece that slides along the edge of the drawing board as a guide to the perpendicular longer section in making parallel lines, right angles, etc., and as a support for triangles.


T-square British  

noun

  1. a T-shaped ruler used in mechanical drawing, consisting of a short crosspiece, which slides along the edge of the drawing board, and a long horizontal piece: used for drawing horizontal lines and to support set squares when drawing vertical and inclined lines

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of T square

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

At war's beginning, Puleston laid aside his brushes and went back to the drawing board with a T square.

From Time Magazine Archive

And out on the Margaritaville scene, the military was the only presence with the posture of a T square.

From Time Magazine Archive

We’ll each make a flying craft/object/thing out of clay, and then we’ll have a contest to see whose flings the farthest across the room off of a big metal T square mounted to his desk.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

He laid down the T square and the hammer for a piece of pastel crayon.

From Stories from Everybody's Magazine by Various

The upper end of the T square is raised above the paper, and forms a bridge, under which the cart travels.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 288, July 9, 1881 by Various

“You have a glue pot, a T-square, a razor blade, and you physically put together advertisements.”

From Seattle Times Oct. 20, 2019

The Slide’s simple operation and high-tech sheen are a pleasing combination for anyone accustomed to drafting with the assistance of a humble T-square.

From Slate Jun. 26, 2014

His working tools — backpack, easel, paints, brushes, folding stool, T-square, huge umbrella — are also on display, making vivid all the gear he lugged with him.

From Seattle Times Aug. 30, 2012

Edward Ruscha, 27, limns with the same T-square edge precision that is the trademark of hard-edged pop.

From Time Magazine Archive

I preferred to ignore the world around me, obsessing only over what was in front of me: my T-square, my X-acto knife, my blue pencil.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

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