square

square / skwe(ə)r/ • n. 1. a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles. ∎  a thing having such a shape or approximately such a shape: she tore a bit of cloth into a four-inch square. ∎  a thing having the shape or approximate shape of a cube: a small square of chocolate. ∎  an open (typically four-sided) area surrounded by buildings in a town, village, or city: a market square | [in place names] Herald Square. ∎  an open area at the meeting of streets. ∎  a small square area on the board used in a game. ∎  a block of buildings bounded by four streets. ∎  hist. a body of infantry drawn up in rectangular form. ∎  a unit of 100 square ft. used as a measure of flooring, roofing, etc. 2. the product of a number multiplied by itself: a circle's area is proportional to the square of its radius. 3. an L-shaped or T-shaped instrument used for obtaining or testing right angles: a carpenter's square. ∎  Astrol. an aspect of 90° (one quarter of a circle): Venus in square to Jupiter. 4. inf. a person considered to be old-fashioned or boringly conventional in attitude or behavior. 5. inf. a square meal: three squares a day. • adj. 1. having the shape or approximate shape of a square: a square table. ∎  having the shape or approximate shape of a cube: a square box. ∎  having or in the form of two right angles: a suitable length of wood with square ends. ∎  having an outline resembling two corners of a square: his square jaw. ∎  broad and solid in shape: he was short and square. 2. denoting a unit of measurement equal to the area of a square whose side is of the unit specified: 30,000 square feet of new gallery space. ∎  denoting the length of each side of a square shape or object: the office was fifteen feet square. 3. at right angles; perpendicular: these lines must be square to the top and bottom marked edges. ∎  Astrol. having or denoting an aspect of 90°: Jupiter is square to the Sun. 4. level or parallel: place one piece of wood on top of the other, ensuring that they are exactly square. ∎  properly arranged; in good order: we should get everything square before we leave. ∎  compatible or in agreement: he wanted to make sure we were square with the court's decision and not subject to a lawsuit. ∎  fair and honest: she'd been as square with him as anybody could be. 5. (of two people) owing nothing to each other: an acknowledgment that we are square. ∎  with both players or sides having equal scores in a game: the goal brought the match all square once again. 6. inf. old-fashioned or boringly conventional: Elvis was anything but square. 7. (of rhythm) simple and straightforward. • adv. directly; straight: it hit me square in the forehead ∎ inf. fairly; honestly: I'd acted square and on the level with him. • v. [tr.] 1. make square or rectangular; give a square or rectangular cross section to: you can square off the other edge. ∎  [usu. as adj.] (squared) mark out in squares. 2. multiply (a number) by itself: 5 squared equals 25. ∎  [usu. as adj.] (squared) convert (a linear unit of measurement) to a unit of area equal to a square whose side is of the unit specified: there were only three people per kilometer squared. 3. make compatible; reconcile: I'm able to square my profession with my religious beliefs. ∎  [intr.] be compatible: do those announcements really square with the facts? 4. balance (an account): they're anxious to square their books before the audit. ∎  make the score of (a match or game) even: [tr.] his goal squared the match 1-1. ∎ inf. secure the help, acquiescence, or silence of (someone), esp. by offering an inducement: trying to square the press. 5. bring (one's shoulders) into a position in which they appear square and broad, typically to prepare oneself for a difficult task or event: chin up, shoulders squared, she stepped into the room. ∎  (square oneself) adopt a posture of defense. 6. Sailing set (a yard or other part of a ship) approximately at right angles to the keel or other point of reference. 7. Astrol. (of a planet) have a square aspect with (another planet or position): Saturn squares the Sun on the 17th. PHRASES: back to (or at) square one inf. back to where one started, with no progress having been made. on the square 1. inf. honest; straightforward. 2. inf. honestly; fairly. 3. at right angles. out of square not at right angles. square accounts withsee account. square the circle construct a square equal in area to a given circle (a problem incapable of a purely geometric solution). ∎  do something that is considered to be impossible. a square peg in a round holesee peg.PHRASAL VERBS: square something away arrange or deal with something in a satisfactory way: don't you worry, we'll get things squared away. square off assume the attitude of a person about to fight: the two men squared off | fig. a debate gives the candidates an opportunity to square off. square up settle or pay an account: would you square up the bill? ∎  settle a dispute or misunderstanding: I want to square up whatever's wrong between us. DERIVATIVES: square·ness n. squar·er n. squar·ish adj.