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square - 14 dictionary results

square

[skwair]

,noun, verb, squared, squar⋅ing, adjective, squar⋅er, squar⋅est, adverb

Use square in a Sentence

–noun

1.	a rectangle having all four sides of equal length.

2.	anything having this form or a form approximating it, as a city block, rectangular piece of candy, etc.

3.	an open area or plaza in a city or town, formed by the meeting or intersecting of two or more streets and often planted with grass, trees, etc., in the center.

4.	a rectangularly shaped area on a game board, as in chess or checkers.

5.	a try square, T square, or the like.

Mathematics.

a.	the second power of a quantity, expressed as a² = a × a, where a is the quantity.

b.	a quantity that is the second power of another: Four is the square of two.

7.	Slang. a person who is ignorant of or uninterested in current fads, ideas, manners, tastes, etc.; an old-fashioned, conventional, or conservative person.

8.	Military. (formerly) a body of troops drawn up in quadrilateral form.

9.	Building Trades. a unit of measure for roofing materials, equal to 100 square feet (9.3 sq. m).

10.	a flower bud of the cotton plant.

11.	Nautical. the area at the bottom of a hatchway.

12.	Usually, squares. Informal. a square meal: to get three squares a day.

13.	Astrology. a situation in which two heavenly bodies or groups of heavenly bodies have celestial longitudes differing by 90 degrees, an aspect indicative of internal tension with an equally strong and conflicting need for adjustment.

14.	Obsolete. a pattern, standard, or example.

–verb (used with object)

15.	to reduce to square, rectangular, or cubical form (often fol. by off): He squared off the log to make a timber for his house.

16.	to mark out in one or more squares or rectangles.

17.	to test with measuring devices for deviation from a right angle, straight line, or plane surface.

18.

Mathematics.

a.	to multiply (a number or quantity) by itself; raise to the second power.

b.	to describe or find a square that is equivalent in area to: to square a circle.

19.	to bring to the form of a right angle or right angles; set at right angles to something else.

20.	to even the score of (a contest): to square a game.

21.	to set (the shoulders and back) in an erect posture so they form an angle similar to a right angle.

22.	to make straight, level, or even: Square the cloth on the table.

23.	to regulate, as by a standard; adapt; adjust.

24.	to adjust harmoniously or satisfactorily (often fol. by with): How could you square such actions with your conscience?

25.	to balance; pay off; settle: to square a debt.

26.	Slang. to secure a desired action or attitude by means of bribery; bribe.

–verb (used without object)

27.	to accord or agree (often fol. by with): Your theory does not square with the facts.

28.	to settle, even, or balance a matter, as by paying a bill, returning a favor, or tying a score.

29.	(of a cotton plant) to form buds.

–adjective

30.	formed by or as a right angle; having some part or parts rectangular: a square corner.

31.	having four sides and four right angles in two dimensions or three pairs of parallel sides meeting at right angles in three dimensions; having each dimension in the shape of a square or rectangle and all angles right angles: a square box.

32.	noting any unit of area measurement having the form of a square and designated by a unit of linear measurement forming a side of the square: one square foot.

33.	noting a system of area measurement in terms of such units.

34.	(of an area) equal to a square of a specified length on a side: five miles square.

35.	at right angles, or perpendicular.

36.	Nautical. at right angles to the mast and the keel, as a yard.

37.	having a square or rectangular section: a square bar.

38.	having a solid, sturdy form, esp. when characterized by a rectilinear or angular outline.

39.	straight, level, or even, as a surface.

40.	leaving no balance of debt on either side; having all accounts settled: I'm all square with my landlord.

41.	just, fair, or honest.

42.	straightforward, direct, or unequivocal.

43.	Slang. conventional or conservative in style or outlook; not hip.

–adverb

44.	so as to be square; in square or rectangular form.

45.	at right angles.

46.	fairly or honestly.

47.	directly or straightforwardly.

—Verb phrases

48.	square around, Baseball. (of a bunter) to shift the feet and body from a conventional batting stance to a position facing the pitcher, with the bat held across and in front of the body.

49.

square away,

a.	Nautical. to arrange the yards so as to sail before the wind.

b.	to prepare; get ready: Square away for dinner.

c.	to assume a position of defense or offense: The wrestlers squared away for the first fall.

d.	to organize or complete satisfactorily; put in order: I want to square away the work before going on vacation.

50.

square off,

a.	to assume a posture of defense or offense, as in boxing: They squared off for a fight.

b.	to prepare to dispute with another; show signs of opposition or resistance: The governor and the legislature are squaring off over the landfill issue.

51.	square up, to pay or settle an account, bill, etc.: We squared up with the cashier and checked out of the hotel.

—Idioms

52.

on the square,

a.	at right angles.

b.	Informal. straightforward; honest; just: Their dealings with us have always been on the square.

53.

out of square,

a.	not at right angles.

b.	not in agreement; incorrect; irregular: The inspector's conclusions are out of square with his earlier report.

54.	square the circle, to strive without chance of success; attempt the impossible.

Origin:
1250–1300; (n.) ME < OF esquar(r)e < VL *exquadra, deriv. of *exquadrāre (L ex- ex- ¹ + quadrāre to square; see quadrate ); (v.) ME squaren < OF esquarrer < VL *exquadrāre; (adj.) ME < OF esquarré, ptp. of esquarrer; (adv.) deriv. of the adj.

Related forms:

squar⋅a⋅ble, adjective

squarelike, adjective

squareness, noun

squarer, noun

Synonyms:
3. place, park. 22. straighten. 23. rectify. 40. balanced. 42. downright, straight.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To square

square (skwâr)

A plane figure having four equal sides.
Something having an equal-sided rectangular form: a square of cloth.
A T-shaped or L-shaped instrument for drawing or testing right angles.
Mathematics The product obtained when a number or quantity is multiplied by itself: 49 is the square of 7.
Games Any of the quadrilateral spaces on a board, as in chess.
1. Abbr. Sq. An open, usually four-sided area at the intersection of two or more streets, often planted with grass and trees for use as a park.
2. A rectangular space enclosed by streets and occupied by buildings; a block.
Slang A person who is regarded as dull, rigidly conventional, and out of touch with current trends.
Slang A square meal. Often used in the plural: three squares a day.

adj. squar·er, squar·est

Having four equal sides and four right angles.
Forming a right angle.
1. Abbr. sq. Expressed in units measuring area: square feet.
2. Having a specified length in each of two equal dimensions: a room that is 12 feet square.
Having a base that is a square: a square pyramid.
Nautical Set at right angles to the mast and keel. Used of the yards of a square-rigged ship.
Approximately rectangular and equilateral in cross section: a square house.
Characterized by blocklike solidity or sturdiness.
Honest; direct: a square answer.
Just; equitable: a square deal.
Having all accounts settled; even.
Sports Even; tied.
Slang Rigidly conventional; dull.

v. squared, squar·ing, squares

v. tr.

To cut to a square or rectangular shape.
To test for conformity to a desired plane, straight line, or right angle.
To mark into squares. Often used with off.
1. To bring into conformity or agreement: She could not square the request with her principles.
2. To bring (oneself) into a better position or relation: He tried to square himself with his parents.
3. To raise (a number or quantity) to the second power.
4. To find a square equal in area to (the area of a given figure).
To set straight or at approximate right angles: square one's cap.
To bring into balance; settle: square a debt.
Sports To even the score of: to square a game.
Mathematics
1. To raise (a number or quantity) to the second power.
2. To find a square equal in area to (the area of a given figure).
Informal To bribe or fix: a party in litigation that tried to square the judge.

v. intr.

Mathematics To be at right angles.
To agree or conform: a story that doesn't square with the facts.

adv.

Mathematics At right angles.
In a square shape.
In a solid manner; firmly.
Directly; straight: ran square into each other.
In an honest, straightforward manner.
Nautical To square the yards of a sailing vessel.
To put away or in order.

Phrasal Verb(s):
square away

Nautical To square the yards of a sailing vessel.
To put away or in order.

square offTo assume a fighting stance; prepare to fight.
square upTo settle a bill or debt.

Idiom(s):
on the square

Mathematics At right angles.
Honestly and openly: has always dealt on the square.

Idiom(s):
out of square

Mathematics Not at exact right angles.
Not in agreement.

Idiom(s):
square peg in a round hole Informal A misfit.

[Middle English, from Old French esquarre, from Vulgar Latin *exquadra, from *exquadrāre, to square : Latin ex-, ex- + quadrāre, to give a square shape to (from quadrum, a square; see k^wetwer- in Indo-European roots).]
square'ness n., squar'er n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Square

Square\, n. [OF. esquarre, esquierre, F. ['e]querre a carpenter's square (cf. It. squadra), fr. (assumed) LL. exquadrare to make square; L. ex + quadrus a square, fr. quattuor four. See Four, and cf. Quadrant, Squad, Squer a square.]

1. (Geom.) (a) The corner, or angle, of a figure. [Obs.] (b) A parallelogram having four equal sides and four right angles.

2. Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so; as: (a) A square piece or fragment.

He bolted his food down his capacious throat in squares of three inches. --Sir W. Scott. (b) A pane of glass. (c) (Print.) A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; -- used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers. (d) (Carp.) One hundred superficial feet.

3. An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side; sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of two or more streets.

The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town. --Addison.

4. (Mech. & Joinery) An instrument having at least one right angle and two or more straight edges, used to lay out or test square work. It is of several forms, as the T square, the carpenter's square, the try-square., etc.

5. Hence, a pattern or rule. [Obs.]

6. (Arith. & Alg.) The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8 [times] 8 = 64; the square of a + b is a^2 + 2ab + b^2.

7. Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule. [Obs.]

They of Galatia [were] much more out of square. --Hooker.

I have not kept my square. --Shak.

8. (Mil.) A body of troops formed in a square, esp. one formed to resist a charge of cavalry; a squadron. "The brave squares of war." --Shak.

9. Fig.: The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level.

We live not on the square with such as these. --Dryden.

10. (Astrol.) The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate. [Obs.]

11. The act of squaring, or quarreling; a quarrel. [R.]

12. The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered. [Obs.] --Shak.

Geometrical square. See Quadrat, n., 2.

Hollow square (Mil.), a formation of troops in the shape of a square, each side consisting of four or five ranks, and the colors, officers, horses, etc., occupying the middle.

Least square, Magic square, etc. See under Least, Magic, etc.

On the square, or Upon the square, in an open, fair manner; honestly, or upon honor. [Obs. or Colloq.]

On, or Upon, the square with, upon equality with; even with. --Nares.

To be all squares, to be all settled. [Colloq.] --Dickens.

To be at square, to be in a state of quarreling. [Obs.] --Nares.

To break no square, to give no offense; to make no difference. [Obs.]

To break squares, to depart from an accustomed order.

To see how the squares go, to see how the game proceeds; -- a phrase taken from the game of chess, the chessboard being formed with squares. [Obs.] --L'Estrange.

Square

Square\, a. 1. (Geom.) Having four equal sides and four right angles; as, a square figure.

2. Forming a right angle; as, a square corner.

3. Having a shape broad for the height, with rectilineal and angular rather than curving outlines; as, a man of a square frame.

4. Exactly suitable or correspondent; true; just.

She's a most truimphant lady, if report be square to her. --Shak.

5. Rendering equal justice; exact; fair; honest, as square dealing.

6. Even; leaving no balance; as, to make or leave the accounts square.

7. Leaving nothing; hearty; vigorous.

By Heaven, square eaters. More meat, I say. --Beau. & Fl.

8. (Naut.) At right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; -- said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced.

Note: Square is often used in self-explaining compounds or combination, as in square-built, square-cornered, square-cut, square-nosed, etc.

Square foot, an area equal to that of a square the sides of which are twelwe inches; 144 square inches.

Square knot, a knot in which the terminal and standing parts are parallel to each other; a reef knot. See Illust. under Knot.

Square measure, the measure of a superficies or surface which depends on the length and breadth taken conjointly. The units of square measure are squares whose sides are the linear measures; as, square inches, square feet, square meters, etc.

Square number. See square, n., 6.

Square root of a number or quantity (Math.), that number or quantity which, multiplied by itself produces the given number or quantity.

Square sail (Naut.), a four-sided sail extended upon a yard suspended by the middle; sometimes, the foresail of a schooner set upon a yard; also, a cutter's or sloop's sail boomed out. See Illust. of Sail.

Square stern (Naut.), a stern having a transom and joining the counter timbers at an angle, as distinguished from a round stern, which has no transom.

Three-square, Five-square, etc., having three, five, etc., equal sides; as, a three-square file.

To get square with, to get even with; to pay off. [Colloq.]

Square

Square\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squared; p. pr. & vb. n. Squaring.] [Cf. OF. escarrer, esquarrer. See Square, n.]

1. To form with four sides and four right angles. --Spenser.

2. To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces; as, to square mason's work.

3. To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard. --Shak.

4. To adjust; to regulate; to mold; to shape; to fit; as, to square our actions by the opinions of others.

Square my trial To my proportioned strength. --Milton.

5. To make even, so as leave no remainder of difference; to balance; as, to square accounts.

6. (Math.) To multiply by itself; as, to square a number or a quantity.

7. (Astrol.) To hold a quartile position respecting.

The icy Goat and Crab that square the Scales. --Creech.

8. (Naut.) To place at right angles with the keel; as, to square the yards.

To square one's shoulders, to raise the shoulders so as to give them a square appearance, -- a movement expressing contempt or dislike. --Sir W. Scott.

To square the circle (Math.), to determine the exact contents of a circle in square measure. The solution of this famous problem is now generally admitted to be impossible.

Square

Square\, v. i. 1. To accord or agree exactly; to be consistent with; to conform or agree; to suit; to fit.

No works shall find acceptamce . . . That square not truly with the Scripture plan. --Cowper.

2. To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel. [Obs.]

Are you such fools To square for this? --Shak.

3. To take a boxing attitude; -- often with up, sometimes with off. [Colloq.] --Dickens.

Language Translation for : square

Italian: quadrato,

German: das Quadrat,

Japanese: 正方形

More Translations »

square (of a number)

A number multiplied by itself, or raised to the second power. The square of three is nine; the square of nine is eighty-one.

square (n.)

c.1300, "tool for measuring right angles," from O.Fr. esquire "a square, squareness," from V.L. *exquadra, from *exquadrare "to square," from L. ex- "out" + quadrare "make square," from quadrus "a square," from quattuor "four" (see quart). Meaning "rectangular shape or area" is first recorded before 1382; replaced O.E. feower-scyte. Sense of "open space in a town or park" is from 1687. The mathematical sense of "a number multiplied by itself" is first recorded 1557. The verb is first attested 1382; with ref. to accounts, from 1815.

square (adj.)

c.1300, "containing four equal sides and right angles," from square (n.). Meaning "honest, fair," is first attested 1564; that of "straight, direct" is from 1804. Sense of "old-fashioned" is 1944, U.S. jazz slang, said to be from shape of a conductor's hand gestures in a regular four-beat rhythm. (Square-toes meant nearly the same thing in 1771, from a style of shoes then fallen from fashion.) Squaresville is attested from 1956. Square one "the beginning" is first recorded 1960, probably from board games; square dance first attested 1870.

Main Entry: square
Function: adjective
: fitting the factual or legal situation at bar square holding of a Florida court to that effect —Milhet Caterers, Incorporated v. North Western Meat, Incorporated, 185 So. Second 196 (1966)> —square·ly adverb

Main Entry: square
Pronunciation: 'skwa(&)r, 'skwe(&)r
Function: adjective
: being or converted to a unit of area equal in measure to a square eachside of which measures one unit of a specified unit of length square foot> square meter>

square (skwâr) Pronunciation Key
Noun

A rectangle having four equal sides.
The product that results when a number or quantity is multiplied by itself. The square of 8, for example, is 64.

Adjective Of, being, or using units that express the measure of area.

Verb To multiply a number, quantity, or expression by itself.

Square language
A query language, a precursor to SQL.
["Specifying Queries as Relational Expressions: The SQUARE Data Sublanguage", R.E. Boyce et al, CACM 18(11):621-628 (Nov 1975)].
(1995-05-02)

square

In addition to the idioms beginning with square, also see back to the drawing board (square one); fair and square; on the square; round peg in a square hole; shoot straight (square).

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