n.
- a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles.
▸something that is the shape of a square or a cube.
▸historical a body of infantry drawn up in rectangular form.
- an open, typically four-sided, area surrounded by buildings.
▸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.
- the product of a number multiplied by itself.
- an L-shaped or T-shaped instrument used for obtaining or testing right angles.
- informal a person considered to be old-fashioned or boringly conventional.
- a unit of 100 square ft used as a measure of flooring, roofing, etc.
- Astrology an aspect of 90° (one quarter of a circle).
adj.
- having the shape or approximate shape of a square.
▸having or forming a right angle, exactly or approximately.
- denoting a unit of measurement equal to the area of a square whose side is of the unit specified.
▸
[postpos.]
denoting the length of each side of a square shape or object.
- at right angles.
▸Cricket & Soccer in a direction transversely across the field or pitch.
- broad and solid in shape.
- level or parallel.
▸properly arranged.
▸on even terms.
- fair and honest.
- informal old-fashioned or boringly conventional.
- (of rhythm) simple and straightforward.
adv.
- directly; straight.
- Cricket & Soccer in a direction transversely across the field or pitch.
v.
- make square or rectangular.
▸
[usu. as adj. squared]
mark out in squares.
- multiply (a number) by itself.
- make or be compatible.
- balance (an account) or settle (a bill or debt).
▸make the score of (a match or game) even.
- informal secure the help or acquiescence of (someone), especially by offering an inducement.
- bring (one's shoulders) into a position in which they appear square and broad.
- Sailing set (a yard or other part of a ship) at right angles to the keel or other point of reference.
- Astrology (of a planet) have a square aspect with (another planet or position).
Phrase
- back to
(or at)
square one
informal back to where one started, with no progress having been made. - on the square
- informal honest; straightforward.
- having membership of the Freemasons.
- out of square
not at right angles. - square the circle
- construct a square equal in area to a given circle (a problem incapable of a purely geometrical solution).
- do something considered to be impossible.
- a square deal
see deal1. - a square peg in a round hole
see peg.
Phrase verbal
- square something away
N. Amer. deal with something in a satisfactory way. - square off
- N. Amer. another way of saying square up below.
- Austral./NZ settle a difference.
- square someone off
Austral./NZ placate someone. - square up
- assume the attitude of a person about to fight.
-
(square up to)
face and tackle (a difficulty) resolutely.
Derivative
- squareness n.
- squarer n.
- squarish adj.
Etymology
ME: shortening of OFr. esquare (n.), esquarre (past part.), esquarrer (v.), based on L. quadra ‘square’.