I. ˈkwäˌdrāt, -ädrə̇t sometimes ˈkwȯˌ-; usu -d.+V adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin quadratus, past participle of quadrare to square, make square, fit; akin to Latin quattuor four — more at four
1. : square or approximately square in form
a roughened quadrate area near the apex — L.F.Edwards
the quadrate masses of the rooftops — G.C.Vaillant
2. obsolete : square — used of numbers
3. obsolete
a. : squared , balanced , correspondent
b. : perfect , ideal
4. : expanded into a square at the junction of the arms — used of a heraldic cross
5. : being or relating to a bony or cartilaginous element of each side of the skull to which the lower jaw is articulated in most vertebrates below mammals
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin quadratum, from neuter of quadratus
1.
a. : square
b. : something more or less resembling a square (as a rectangular space or enclosure)
2. : an object square or cubical in form or approximately so
3. obsolete : the aspect of two celestial bodies that are 90 degrees apart
4. : a quadrate bone
III. -ˌdrāt verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin quadratus, past participle of quadrare
intransitive verb
: square , agree , suit , correspond — usually used with with
transitive verb
1. : to make square : divide into squares or cubes
2. : to make accordant : cause to conform
are all novels but an imperative that could quadrate them would be a little astonishing — Bernard DeVoto