square

noun

• 1a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles: a grid of ruled squares
• a thing that is square or approximately square in shape: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
• a small square area on the board used in a game: move the white king’s pawn forward two squares
• historical a body of infantry drawn up in rectangular form.
• a unit of 100 square ft used as a measure of flooring, roofing, etc..
• a square scarf.
• British a mortar board.
• the portion of the cover of a bound book which projects beyond the pages.

• 2an open, typically four-sided, area surrounded by buildings in a village, town, or city:a market square [in place names]:Leicester Square
• an open area at the meeting of streets.
• Cricket a closer-cut area at the centre of a ground, any strip of which may be prepared as a wicket.
• an area within a military barracks or camp used for drill.
• US a block of buildings bounded by four streets.

• 3the product of a number multiplied by itself:a circle’s area is proportional to the square of its radius

• 4an L-shaped or T-shaped instrument used for obtaining or testing right angles:a carpenter’s square
• [mass noun] Astrology an aspect of 90° (one quarter of a circle):Venus in square to Jupiter

• 5 informal a person considered to be old-fashioned or boringly conventional in attitude or behaviour: Reg is such a square

• 6North American 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 block of flats
• 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
• Cricket & Soccer in a direction transversely across the field or pitch: Keen’s square pass was rammed home first time by Bishop
• Astrology having or denoting an aspect of 90°:Jupiter is square to the Sun

• 4level or parallel:place two pieces of wood one 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 acknowledgement 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

• 1directly; straight:the ball hit me square in the forehead
• informal fairly; honestly:I’d acted square with him

• 2 Cricket & Soccer in a direction transversely across the field or pitch:the ball bounced almost square to the left

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:a sheet of squared paper

• 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 kilometre 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):institutions are anxious to square their books before the election
• settle or pay (a bill or debt):would you square up the bill?
• make the score of (a match or game) even: [with object and complement]:his goal squared the match 1-1

• 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

• 6 informal secure the help or acquiescence of (someone), especially by offering an inducement:trying to square the press

• 7 Soccer pass (a ball) across the field, especially towards the centre.

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

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