■ noun
1》 a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles.
↘something that is the shape of a ~ or a cube.
↘ historical a body of infantry drawn up in rectangular form.
2》 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.
3》 the product of a number multiplied by itself.
4》 an L-shaped or T-shaped instrument used for obtaining or testing right angles.
5》 informal a person considered to be old-fashioned or boringly conventional.
6》 a unit of 100 ~ ft used as a measure of flooring, roofing, etc.
7》 Astrology an aspect of 90° (one quarter of a circle).
■ adjective
1》 having the shape or approximate shape of a ~.
↘having or forming a right angle, exactly or approximately.
2》 denoting a unit of measurement equal to the area of a ~ whose side is of the unit specified.
↘[ postposition ] denoting the length of each side of a ~ shape or object.
3》 at right angles.
↘ Cricket & Soccer in a direction transversely across the field or pitch.
4》 broad and solid in shape.
5》 level or parallel.
↘properly arranged.
↘on even terms.
6》 fair and honest.
7》 informal old-fashioned or boringly conventional.
8》 (of rhythm) simple and straightforward.
■ adverb
1》 directly; straight.
2》 Cricket & Soccer in a direction transversely across the field or pitch.
■ verb
1》 make ~ or rectangular.
↘[usu. as adjective ~d ] mark out in ~s.
2》 multiply (a number) by itself.
3》 make or be compatible.
4》 balance (an account) or settle (a bill or debt).
↘make the score of (a match or game) even.
5》 informal secure the help or acquiescence of (someone), especially by offering an inducement.
6》 bring (one's shoulders) into a position in which they appear ~ and broad.
7》 Sailing set (a yard or other part of a ship) at right angles to the keel or other point of reference.
8》 Astrology (of a planet) have a ~ aspect with (another planet or position).
Phrases
back to (or at ) ~ one informal back to where one started, with no progress having been made.
on the ~
1》 informal honest; straightforward.
2》 having membership of the Freemasons.
out of ~ not at right angles.
~ the circle
1》 construct a ~ equal in area to a given circle (a problem incapable of a purely geometrical solution).
2》 do something considered to be impossible.
a ~ deal see deal 1 .
a ~ peg in a round hole see peg .
Phrasal verbs
~ something away N. Amer. deal with something in a satisfactory way.
~ off
1》 N. Amer. another way of saying ~ up below.
2》 Austral./NZ settle a difference.
~ someone off Austral./NZ placate someone.
~ up
1》 assume the attitude of a person about to fight.
2》 ( ~ up to ) face and tackle (a difficulty) resolutely.
Derivatives
~ness noun
~r noun
squarish adjective
Origin
ME: shortening of OFr. e~ (n.), esquarre (past participle), esquarrer (v.), based on L. quadra '~'.