I. ˈskwer noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French esquarre, from Vulgar Latin * exquadra, from * exquadrare to square, from Latin ex- + quadrare to square — more at quadrate
Date: 13th century
1. : an instrument having at least one right angle and two straight edges used especially to lay out or test right angles
2. : a rectangle with all four sides equal
3. : any of the quadrilateral spaces marked out on a board for playing games
4. : the product of a number multiplied by itself
5.
a. : an open place or area formed at the meeting of two or more streets
b. : block 6a
6. : a solid object or piece approximating a cube or having a square as its largest face
7. : an unopened cotton flower with its enclosing bracts
8. : a person who is conventional or conservative in taste or way of life
9. : a square meal
ate three square s a day
•
- on the square
- out of square
II. adjective
( squar·er ; squar·est )
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : having four equal sides and four right angles
b. : forming a right angle
square corner
c. : having a square base
a square pyramid
2. : raised to the second power
3.
a. : being approximately a cube
square cabinet
b. : having a shape that is broad for the height and rectangular rather than curving in outline
square shoulders
a square , thick, hard-working man — Maria Edgeworth
c. : rectangular and equilateral in section
square tower
4.
a. : being or converted to a unit of area equal in measure to a square each side of which measures one unit of a specified unit of length
a square foot
— see metric system table, weight table
b. : being of a specified length in each of two equal dimensions
10 feet square
5.
a. : exactly adjusted : precisely constructed or aligned
b. : just , fair
a square deal
square in all his dealings
c. : leaving no balance : settled
d. : even , tied
e. : substantial , satisfying
square meal
f. : being unsophisticated, conservative, or conventional
6. : set at right angles with the mast and keel — used of the yards of a square-rigged ship
• square·ness noun
III. verb
( squared ; squar·ing )
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to make square or rectangular
square a building stone
b. : to test for deviation from a right angle, straight line, or plane surface
2. : to bring approximately to a right angle
squared his shoulders
3.
a. : to multiply (a number) by itself : raise to the second power
b. : to find a square equal in area to
square a circle
4. : to regulate or adjust by or to some standard or principle
square our actions by the opinions of others — John Milton
5.
a. : balance , settle
square an account
b. : to even the score of
6. : to mark off into squares
7.
a. : to set right : bring into agreement
squared their goals with their beliefs
b. : bribe , fix
intransitive verb
1. : to agree precisely : correspond
your actions should square with your words
2. : to settle matters ; especially : to pay the bill
• squar·er noun
IV. adverb
Date: circa 1582
1. : in a straightforward or honest manner
2.
a. : so as to face or be face-to-face
b. : at right angles
3. : with nothing intervening : directly
ran square into it
4. : in a firm manner
looked her square in the eye
5. : in a square shape