n.
Pronunciation: ' kwä- ˌ dr ā t, -dr ə t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin quadratus, past participle of quadrare to make square, fit, from quadrum square; akin to Latin quattuor four
Date: 14th century
1 : being square or approximately square
2 of a heraldic cross : expanded into a square at the junction of the arms ― see CROSS illustration
3 : of, relating to, or constituting a bony or cartilaginous element of each side of the skull to which the lower jaw is articulated in most vertebrates below mammals