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

For two masses, m1 and m2, scientists multiply the masses together, divide that result by the square of the distance r between them, and then multiply by big G.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

As we stand in a beautiful square, the famous Belfry of Mons looming over us, I ask Karl if he ever pauses to truly soak up the sights.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

The asking price—$39 per square foot, per year—looked like a bargain when compared cursorily to other available office space in the neighborhood listed online.

From Slate ● Sep. 18, 2026

The thousands of square miles of mountain watershed around us, the San Gabriels and the San Bernardinos, are as steep as roller coasters, and the rain funnels off them in tumults.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

All together we were slowly being drawn across the square behind those horses.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

The game ends when all five squares turn green or when the player uses all six attempts without finding the answer.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026

Residents of Savannah, now a tourist mecca known for its moss-draped squares and antebellum architecture, tolerated the river pollution and dismissed the mill’s rotten odor as “the smell of money.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

I don’t eat the traditional three squares a day.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Rather than relying on elaborate studio sets, the production embraced the neighborhood’s authentic character, allowing real businesses, public squares, and residential streets to become integral parts of the series’ identity.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

“I’m tired of playing with stones and acorns. Just think, a real board instead of squares scratched in the dirt.”

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn

His jaw was squarer and facial hair thicker.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

I’d wager somewhere in that territory, but hopefully it won’t be much longer before we find out the full story — and learn the differences between the Sub Mini and its larger, squarer sibling.

From The Verge ● Jun. 2, 2022

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

I knew my traveller with his broad and jetty eyebrows; his square forehead, made squarer by the horizontal sweep of his black hair.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

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

"He's the squarest shooter in the Agriculture Department," says Mr. Reno.

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

On the Moon, it is only about 1.62 meters per second squared because the Moon has much less mass and therefore produces weaker gravitational acceleration.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

And in the bargain I’ve squared a longstanding account, which pays psychic benefits hard to quantify.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

Last December, throngs of supporters and foes squared off at a raucous Metro board meeting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026

"I'm optimistic we can stop the plans... we have got a long way to go, but today we have squared the edge and we have drawn a line in the sand," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026

So I didn’t even protest out loud; I just squared my shoulders, looked Mama in the eye, and said in my most sincere voice, “I live to serve.”

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

By the end of session, he was squaring up line drives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 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

There has been only one previous case of siblings squaring off against ⁠each other at the World Cup,, external and it happened in back-to-back tournaments.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

The episode aired in 1948, but the idea is strangely valid today, except that it’s Elon Musk squaring off with himself.

From Barron's ● May 24, 2026

Rather than sulk, she was squaring up to him.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

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