on the square

square

[skwair] noun, verb, squared, squar·ing, adjective, squar·er, squar·est, adverb
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.
6.
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 followed 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 followed 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.
00:10
On the square is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
verb (used without object)
27.
to accord or agree (often followed 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, especially 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; (noun) Middle English < Old French esquar(r)e < Vulgar Latin *exquadra, derivative of *exquadrāre (Latin ex- ex-1 + quadrāre to square; see quadrate); (v.) Middle English squaren < Old French esquarrer < Vulgar Latin *exquadrāre; (adj.) Middle English < Old French esquarré, past participle of esquarrer; (adv.) derivative of the adj.

Related forms
squar·a·ble, adjective
square·like, adjective
square·ness, noun
squar·er, noun
un·squar·a·ble, adjective
un·squared, adjective

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. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To on the square
Collins
World English Dictionary
square (skwɛə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  rectangle Compare rhombus a plane geometric figure having four equal sides and four right angles
2.  any object, part, or arrangement having this or a similar shape: a square of carpet; a square on a chess board
3.  (capital when part of name) an open area in a town, sometimes including the surrounding buildings, which may form a square
4.  maths the product of two equal factors; the second power: 9 is the square of 3, written 3²
5.  an instrument having two strips of wood, metal, etc, set in the shape of a T or L, used for constructing or testing right angles
6.  cricket the closely-cut area in the middle of a ground on which wickets are prepared
7.  a body of soldiers drawn up in the form of a square
8.  rowing the position of the blade of an oar perpendicular to the surface of the water just before and during a stroke
9.  informal a person who is old-fashioned in views, customs, appearance, etc
10.  astrology conjunction opposition See trine an aspect of about 90° between two planets, etc
11.  obsolete a standard, pattern, or rule
12.  back to square one indicating a return to the starting-point of an investigation, experiment, etc, because of failure, lack of progress, etc
13.  on the square
 a.  at right angles
 b.  on equal terms
 c.  informal honestly and openly
 d.  slang a phrase identifying someone as a Freemason: he is on the square
14.  out of square
 a.  not at right angles or not having a right angle
 b.  not in order or agreement
 
—adj
15.  being a square in shape
16.  having or forming one or more right angles or being at right angles to something
17.  square or rectangular in section: a square bar
18.  a.  (prenominal) denoting a measure of area of any shape: a circle of four square feet
 b.  (immediately postpositive) denoting a square having a specified length on each side: a board four feet square contains 16 square feet
19.  fair and honest (esp in the phrase a square deal)
20.  straight, even, or level: a square surface
21.  cricket at right angles to the wicket: square leg
22.  sport in a straight line across the pitch: a square pass
23.  nautical (of the sails of a square-rigger) set at right angles to the keel
24.  informal old-fashioned in views, customs, appearance, etc
25.  stocky or sturdy: square shoulders
26.  (postpositive) having no remaining debts or accounts to be settled
27.  (of a horse's gait) sound, steady, or regular
28.  (prenominal) unequivocal or straightforward: a square contradiction
29.  (postpositive) neat and tidy
30.  maths (of a matrix) having the same number of rows and columns
31.  all square on equal terms; even in score
32.  informal square peg, square peg in a round hole a person or thing that is a misfit, such as an employee in a job for which he is unsuited
 
—vb (often foll by with)
33.  to make into a square or similar shape
34.  maths to raise (a number or quantity) to the second power
35.  to test or adjust for deviation with respect to a right angle, plane surface, etc
36.  (sometimes foll by off) to divide into squares
37.  to position so as to be rectangular, straight, or level: square the shoulders
38.  (sometimes foll by up) to settle (debts, accounts, etc)
39.  to level (the score) in a game, etc
40.  to agree or cause to agree: your ideas don't square with mine
41.  rowing to turn (an oar) perpendicular to the surface of the water just before commencing a stroke
42.  Compare feather (in canoeing) to turn (a paddle) perpendicular to the direction of the canoe at the commencement of a stroke
43.  to arrange (something), esp by a corrupt method or come to an arrangement with (someone), as by bribery
44.  square the circle to attempt the impossible (in reference to the insoluble problem of constructing a square having exactly the same area as a given circle)
 
—adv
45.  in order to be square
46.  at right angles
47.  sport in a straight line across the pitch: pass the ball square
48.  informal squarely
 
[C13: from Old French esquare, from Vulgar Latin exquadra (unattested), from Latin ex1 + quadrāre to make square; see quadrant]
 
'squareness
 
—n
 
'squarer
 
—n
 
'squarish
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

square
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
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
square   (skwâr)  Pronunciation Key 
Noun  

  1. A rectangle having four equal sides.

  2. 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
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.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

square definition


  1. mod.
    old-fashioned; law-abiding; stodgy. : Man, you are really square.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

square (meal) definition


  1. n.
    a good and nutritious meal. (Always with quantifier when square is used without meal.) : I need three squares a day—at least. , The old soak looks like he could use a square meal.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

on the square

Honestly and openly, as in Our dealings with them have always been on the square. This expression literally means "at right angles." Similarly the antonym out of square, literally signifying "not at right angles," figuratively means "not in agreement" or "irregular." For example, The lab's report is out of square with the x-ray. The first recorded use of this term was in 1542.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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