square

noun

• 1a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles.
• a thing having the shape of four equal straight sides and four right angles:she tore a bit of cloth into a four-inch square
• a thing having the shape or approximate shape of a cube:a small square of chocolate
• an open (typically four-sided) area surrounded by buildings in a town, village, or city:a market square [in place names]:Herald Square
• an open area at the meeting of streets.
• a small square area on the board used in a game.
• a block of buildings bounded by four streets.
• historical a body of infantry drawn up in rectangular form.
• a unit of 100 square ft. used as a measure of flooring, roofing, etc..

• 2the product of a number multiplied by itself:a circle’s area is proportional to the square of its radius

• 3an L-shaped or T-shaped instrument used for obtaining or testing right angles:a carpenter’s square
• Astrology an aspect of 90° (one quarter of a circle):Venus in square to Jupiter

• 4 informal a person considered to be old-fashioned or boringly conventional in attitude or behavior.

• 5 informal a square meal:three squares a day

adjective

• 1having the shape or approximate shape of a square:a square table
• having the shape or approximate shape of a cube:a square box
• having or in the form of two right angles:a suitable length of wood with square ends
• having an outline resembling two corners of a square:his square jaw
• broad and solid in shape:he was short and square

• 2denoting a unit of measurement equal to the area of a square whose side is of the unit specified:30,000 square feet of new gallery space
• [postpositive] denoting the length of each side of a square shape or object:the office was fifteen feet square

• 3at right angles; perpendicular:these lines must be square to the top and bottom marked edges
• Astrology having or denoting an aspect of 90°:Jupiter is square to the Sun

• 4level or parallel:place one piece of wood on top of the other, ensuring that they are exactly square
• properly arranged; in good order:we should get everything square before we leave
• compatible or in agreement:he wanted to make sure we were square with the court’s decision and not subject to a lawsuit
• fair and honest:she’d been as square with him as anybody could be

• 5(of two people) owing nothing to each other:an acknowledgment that we are square
• with both players or sides having equal scores in a game:the goal brought the match all square once again

• 6 informal old-fashioned or boringly conventional:Elvis was anything but square

• 7(of rhythm) simple and straightforward.

adverb

• directly; straight:it hit me square in the forehead
• informal fairly; honestly:I’d acted square and on the level with him

verb

• 1make square or rectangular; give a square or rectangular cross section to:you can square off the other edge
• (usually as adjective squared) mark out in squares.

• 2multiply (a number) by itself:5 squared equals 25
• [usually as postpositive adjective] (squared) convert (a linear unit of measurement) to a unit of area equal to a square whose side is of the unit specified:there were only three people per kilometer squared

• 3make compatible; reconcile:I’m able to square my profession with my religious beliefs
• [no object] be compatible:do those announcements really square with the facts?

• 4balance (an account):they’re anxious to square their books before the audit
• make the score of (a match or game) even: [with object and complement]:his goal squared the match 1-1
• informal secure the help, acquiescence, or silence of (someone), especially by offering an inducement:trying to square the press

• 5bring (one’s shoulders) into a position in which they appear square and broad, typically to prepare oneself for a difficult task or event:chin up, shoulders squared, she stepped into the room
• (square oneself) adopt a posture of defense.

• 6 Sailing set (a yard or other part of a ship) approximately at right angles to the keel or other point of reference.

• 7 Astrology (of a planet) have a square aspect with (another planet or position):Saturn squares the Sun on the 17th