square

views updated Jun 08 2018

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 square1. 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.

square

views updated May 17 2018

square a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles; in astrology, an aspect of 90° (one quarter of a circle).

From the late 16th century, square was the term for a body of infantry drawn up in rectangular formation, as on a battlefield or parade ground.

From the late 17th century, square has been used (often as part of a place-name) for an open space or area in a town or city, especially one of approximately quadrilateral and rectangular shape enclosed by houses.
back to square one back to the starting-point, with no progress made (square one may be a reference to a board-game such as Snakes and Ladders, or derive from the notional division of a football pitch into eight numbered sections for the purpose of early radio commentaries).
Square Mile an informal name for the City of London.
a square peg in a round hole a person in a situation unsuited to their abilities or character.
square the circle construct a square equal in area to a given circle (a problem incapable of a purely geometrical solution); thus, do something that is considered to be impossible.

square

views updated May 21 2018

square.
1. Angle of 90°.

2. Figure of four equal sides and angles of 90°.

3. Square or rectangular open space in a town, formed at the junction of two or more streets, and surrounded by buildings, as in the Georgian squares of Britain, often with gardens in the middle.

4. Fillet in a series of mouldings.

square

views updated May 17 2018

square
A. implement for determining a right angle XIII;

B. rectangular figure with four equal sides XIV; rectangular area XVII. Earliest form squire (XIII–XVII) chiefly in sense A, later square (XV), aphetic — OF. esquere, esquare, (mod. équerre) :- Rom. *exquadra, f. *exquadrāre, f. L. EX-1 + quadra square (see QUADRANT).
So square adj. XIV. — OF. esquarré, pp. of esquarrer (whence square vb. XIV).

Square

views updated Jun 27 2018

Square

A square is a rectangle with all sides equal. A square with side a has perimeter 4a and area a2.

The square is used as the unit of area; that is, a figures area is expressed as the number of equal squares of some standard, such as square inches or square meters, that the figure can contain. In Greek geometry, the area of a figure was determined by converting the figure to a square of the same area. This is easily accomplished for triangles, rectangles, and other polygons, but is often impossible for other figures, such as circles.

Square

views updated May 29 2018

Square

A square is a rectangle with all sides equal. A square with side a has perimeter 4a and area a2.

The square is used as the unit of area; that is, a figure's area is expressed as the number of equal squares of some standard, such as square inches or square meters, that the figure can contain. In Greek geometry , the area of a figure was determined by converting the figure to a square of the same area. This is easily accomplished for triangles, rectangles, and other polygons , but is often impossible for other figures, such as circles.

square

views updated May 23 2018

square In geometry, rectangle with four sides of the same length. In arithmetic or algebra, a square is the result of multiplying a quantity by itself: the square of 3 is 9, and the square of x is x2.

Square

views updated May 14 2018

Square

a body of troops drawn up in a square formation.

Examples : square of battle, 1599; of pedestrians, 1893; of pikes, 1602.