square

1 of 4

noun

ˈskwer 

1

: an instrument having at least one right angle and two straight edges used especially to lay out or test right angles

2

: a rectangle with all four sides equal

3

: any of the quadrilateral spaces marked out on a board for playing games

4

: the product of a number multiplied by itself

5

a

: an open place or area formed at the meeting of two or more streets

b

: block sense 6a

6

: a solid object or piece approximating a cube or having a square as its largest face

7

: an unopened cotton flower with its enclosing bracts

8

: a person who is conventional or conservative in taste or way of life

9

: a square meal

ate three squares a day

square

2 of 4

adjective

squarer; squarest

1

a

: having four equal sides and four right angles

b

: forming a right angle

square corner

c

: having a square base

a square pyramid

2

: raised to the second power

3

a

: being approximately a cube

square cabinet

b

: having a shape that is broad for the height and rectangular rather than curving in outline

square shoulders

a square, thick, hard-working man

—Maria Edgeworth

c

: rectangular and equilateral in section

square tower

4

a

: being or converted to a unit of area equal in measure to a square each side of which measures one unit of a specified unit of length

a square foot

see Metric System Table, Weights and Measures Table

b

: being of a specified length in each of two equal dimensions

10 feet square

5

a

: exactly adjusted : precisely constructed or aligned

b

: just, fair

a square deal

square in all his dealings

c

: leaving no balance : settled

d

: even, tied

e

: substantial, satisfying

square meal

f

: being unsophisticated, conservative, or conventional

6

: set at right angles with the mast and keel

—used of the yards of a square-rigged ship

squareness noun

square

3 of 4

verb

squared; squaring

transitive verb

1

a

: to make square or rectangular

square a building stone

b

: to test for deviation from a right angle, straight line, or plane surface

2

: to bring approximately to a right angle

squared his shoulders

3

a

: to multiply (a number) by itself : raise to the second power

b

: to find a square equal in area to

square a circle

4

: to regulate or adjust by or to some standard or principle

square our actions by the opinions of others

—John Milton

5

a

: balance, settle

square an account

b

: to even the score of

6

: to mark off into squares

7

a

: to set right : bring into agreement

squared their goals with their beliefs

b

: bribe, fix

intransitive verb

1

: to agree precisely : correspond

your actions should square with your words

2

: to settle matters

especially : to pay the bill

squarer noun

square

4 of 4

adverb

1

: in a straightforward or honest manner

2

a

: so as to face or be face-to-face

b

: at right angles

3

: with nothing intervening : directly

ran square into it

4

: in a firm manner

looked her square in the eye

5

: in a square shape

Phrases

on the square

1

: at right angles

2

: in a fair open manner : honestly

out of square

: not at an exact right angle

Synonyms

Adjective

• foursquare
• quadrate

Verb

• accord
• agree
• answer
• check
• chord
• cohere
• coincide
• comport
• conform
• consist
• correspond
• dovetail
• fit
• go
• harmonize
• jibe
• rhyme
• rime
• sort
• tally

Examples of square in a Sentence

Noun

The fabric is decorated with circles and squares.

Cut the brownies into squares.

The board has red and black squares.

Adjective

The room has four square corners.

received a square hearing from the disciplinary panel

Verb

The machine squares the wood into flat boards.

If you square 3, you get 9.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Today, a Texas road tripper expects to find a brewpub in just about any courthouse square in the state, except in dry precincts. —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024

Where to Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest (5-minute walk) BOOK NOW Madrid, Spain Photo: Getty Images Location: Plaza Mayor When: November 25 to December 31 What to Expect: This century-old holiday fair has over 100 wooden stalls and is nestled in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor town square. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Though a few stores have been open for months, two of the three floors are now fully operational with 20-plus shops and more than 50,000 square feet of retail. —Talia Lavin, Curbed, 7 Nov. 2024

The Spa | Esencia’s spa spans nearly 3,000 square feet, and is housed under a massive thatched roof with rounded stucco walls surrounded by a tropical flower and herb garden. —Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Verb

How could Trump square his promises not to cut Social Security or Medicare with tax proposals that would make these automatic cuts even bigger? —Ben Ritz, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Chutkan must decide how to square the blockbuster high court ruling with the allegations about Trump's conduct in the case. —April Rubin, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024

Adverb

On Lap 36, Power spun Benjamin Pedersen rounding the final corner after the race had restarted, and Castroneves ran square into the A.J. Foyt Racing car. —Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Sep. 2023

The Juncos Hollinger Racing driver didn’t brake soon enough and ran square into the back of Kyle Kirkwood, demolishing his rear wing. —Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 5 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French esquarre, from Vulgar Latin *exquadra, from *exquadrare to square, from Latin ex- + quadrare to square — more at quadrate

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adverb

circa 1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing square

• a square peg in a round hole
• chi-square
• chi-square distribution
• fair and square
• fair/square deal
• four square
• go back to square one
• inverse square law
• Latin square
• magic square
• mean square
• mean square deviation
• miter square
• perfect square
• public square
• Punnett square
• root-mean-square
• set square
• square away
• square bracket
• square dance
• square it with
• square knot
• square matrix
• square meal
• square measure
• square off
• square of opposition
• square one
• square oneself
• square one's shoulders
• square rig
• square-rigged
• square-rigger
• square root
• square sail
• square shooter
• square-toed
• square up
• square up to
• square wave
• square with
• try square
• T square
• word square

Kids Definition

square

1 of 4 noun

ˈskwa(ə)r 

ˈskwe(ə)r

1

: an instrument having at least one right angle and two straight edges used to draw or test right angles

2

: a rectangle with all four sides equal

3

: any of the four-sided spaces marked out on a board for playing games

4

: the product of a number multiplied by itself

4 is the square of 2

5

a

: an open place or area formed at the meeting of two or more streets

b

: block entry 1 sense 7a

square

2 of 4 adjective

squarer; squarest

1

a

: having four equal sides and four right angles

a square piece of paper

b

: forming a right angle

a square corner

c

: having a square base

a square pyramid

2

a

: being approximately a cube

a square cabinet

b

: of a shape suggesting strength and toughness

a square jaw

square shoulders

c

: having the shape of a square as its cross section

a square tower

3

a

: being a unit of area that has the shape of a square and sides of a specified unit length

a square foot

b

: being of a specified length in each of two equal dimensions

10 feet square

4

a

: exactly adjusted : well made

b

: just entry 1 sense 2a, fair

a square deal

c

: leaving no balance : settled

d

: being tied in score

the golfers were all square after five holes

e

: large enough to satisfy

three square meals a day

5

: not knowing or following the latest styles

squareness noun

square

3 of 4 verb

squared; squaring

1

: to form with right angles, straight edges, and flat surfaces : make square or rectangular

square a timber

2

: to bring to a right angle

squared his shoulders

3

a

: to multiply (a number) by itself : to raise (a number) to the second power

b

: to find a square equal in area to

square a circle

4

: to agree or make agree

his story does not square with the facts

5

: balance entry 2 sense 1, settle

square an account

6

: to mark off into squares

7

: bribe entry 2, fix

8

: to take a fighting stance

the two squared off

square

4 of 4 adverb

: in a direct, firm, or honest manner

looked her square in the eye

Medical Definition

square

adjective

ˈskwa(ə)r, ˈskwe(ə)r 

: being or converted to a unit of area equal in measure to a square each side of which measures one unit of a specified unit of length

a square foot

Legal Definition

square

adjective

: fitting the factual or legal situation at bar

we have been shown no square holding of a Florida court to that effect

—Milhet Caterers, Inc. v. North Western Meat, Inc., 185 So. 2d 196 (1966)

squarely adverb