Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Square

Square

(skwâr)
,
Noun.
[OF.
esquarre
,
esquierre
, F.
équerre
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
,
Squire
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 × 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
.
Shakespeare
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.
fair and square
in a fair, straightforward, and honest manner; justly;
as, he beat me
fair and square
.
–
Geometrical square
.
See
Quadrat
,
Noun.
, 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
,
(a)
in an open, fair manner; honestly, or upon honor; justly.
[Obs or Colloq.]
(b)
at right angles.
–
On the square with
, 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 squares
,
to give no offense; to make no difference.
[Obs.]
–
To break squares
,
to depart from an accustomed order.
[Obs.]
–
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

(skwâr)
,
Adj.
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 triumphant lady, if report be
square
to her.
Shakespeare
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.
☞
Square
is often used in self-explaining compounds or combinations, 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 twelve 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
,
Noun.
, 6.
–
Square root of a number
or
Square root of a 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

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Squared
(skwârd)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Squaring
.]
[Cf. OF.
escarrer
,
esquarrer
. See
Square
,
Noun.
]
1.
To form with four equal sides and four right angles.
Spenser.
2.
To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces;
as, to
square
masons' 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 to leave no remainder or 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

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To accord or agree exactly; to be consistent with; to conform or agree; to suit; to fit.
No works shall find acceptance . . .
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?
Shakespeare
3.
To take a boxing attitude; – often with up, sometimes with off.
[Colloq.]
Dickens.

Webster 1828 Edition

Square

SQUARE

,
Adj.
[Gr.]
1.
Having four equal sides and four right angles; as a square room; a square figure.
2.
Forming a right angle; as an instrument for striking lines square.
3.
Parallel; exactly suitable; true.
Shes a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her. [Unusual.]
4.
Having a straight front, or a frame formed with straight lines; not curving; as a man of a square frame; a square built man.
5.
That does equal justice; exact; fair; honest; as square dealing.
6.
Even; leaving no balance. Let us make or leave the accounts square.
Three square, five square, having three or five equal sides, &c.; an abusive use of square.
Square root, in geometry and arithmetic. The square root of a quantity or number is that which, multiplied by itself, produces the square. Thus 7 is the square root of 49, for 7 times 7 = 49.
In seamens language, the yards are square, when they are arranged at right angles with the mast or the keel. The yards and sails are said also to be square, when they are of greater extent than usual.

SQUARE

,
Noun.
1.
A figure having four equal sides and four right angles.
2.
An area of four sides, with houses on each side.
The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town.
3.
The content of the side of a figure squared.
4.
An instrument among mechanics by which they form right angles, or otherwise measure angles.
5.
Im geometry and arithmetic, a square or square number is the product of a number multiplied by itself. Thus 64 is the square of 8, for 8 times 8 = 64.
6.
Rule; regularity; exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct.
They of Galatia much more out of square.
I have not kept my square. [Not in use.]
7.
A square body of troops; a squadron; as the brave square of war. [Not in use.]
8.
A quaternion; four. [Not in use.]
9.
Level; equality.
We live not on the square with such as these.
10.
In astrology, quartile; the position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other.
11.
Rule; conformity; accord. I shall break no squares with another for a trifle.
Squares go. Let us see how the squares go, that is, how the game proceeds; a phrase taken from the game of chess, the chess board being formed with squares.

SQUARE

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To form with four equal sides and four right angles.
2.
To reduce to a square; to form to right angles; as, to square masons work.
3.
To reduce to any given measure or standard.
4, To adjust; to regulate; to mold; to shape; as, to square our actions by the opinions of others; to square our lives by the precepts of the gospel.
5.
To accommodate; to fit; as, square my trial to my strength.
6.
To respect in quartile.
7.
To make even, so as to leave no difference or balance; as, to square accounts; a popular phrase.
8.
In arithmetic, to multiply a number by itself; as, to square the number.
9.
In seamens language, to square the yards, is to place them at right angles with the mast or keel.

SQUARE

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To suit; to fit; to quadrate; to accord or agree. His opinions do not square with the doctrines of philosophers.
2.
To quarrel; to go to opposite sides.
Are you such fools to square for this? [Not in use.]

Definition 2024

square

square

English

A square (polygon)
Komsomolskaya Square at night

Noun

square ‎(plural squares)

  1. (geometry) A polygon with four sides of equal length and four angles of 90 degrees; a regular quadrilateral whose angles are all 90 degrees.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Kazimir Malevich
      I took refuge in the square form and exhibited a picture which consisted of nothing more than a black square on a white field.
  2. An L- or T-shaped tool used to place objects or draw lines at right angles.
    There are so many uses for the square, in fact, that a new model will usually come complete with a booklet enumerating its applications. - The Carpenter's Square
  3. An open space in a town, not necessarily square in shape, often containing trees, seating and other features pleasing to the eye.
    • Addison
      The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town.
    • (Can we date this quote?) NewsRadio
      You're not in Wisconsin, Dave. The big story isn't about a cow wandering into the town square.
  4. A cell in a grid.
    You may not move a piece to a square already occupied by one of your own pieces.
  5. (mathematics) The second power of a number, value, term or expression.
    64 is the square of 8.
  6. (military) A body of troops drawn up in a square formation.
    • Shakespeare
      the brave squares of war
    • 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society 2010, page 144:
      After disastrous attempts to break the Russian squares, during which, Longworth recounts, ‘the best and the bravest of the warriors fell victim to their own rashness’, the Circassians likewise changed their tactics.
  7. (slang) A socially conventional person; typically associated with the 1950s
    • 1957, Elvis Presley (music), “Jailhouse Rock”:
      The sad sack was a sitting on a block of stone / Way over in the corner weepin' all alone. / The warden said, hey, buddy, don't you be no square / If you can't find a partner, use a wooden chair.
    Why do you always wear a tie? Don't be such a square!
  8. (Britain) The symbol # on a telephone; hash.
    Enter your account number followed by a square.
  9. (cricket) The central area of a cricket field, with one ore more pitches of which only one is used at a time.
    An ideal playing area is roughly circular in shape with a central area, the cricket square, measuring 27.44 metres by 27.44 metres and boundaries 45.75 metres from the sides of the square.
  10. (real estate jargon) A unit of measurement of area, equal to a 10 foot by 10 foot square, ie. 100 square feet or roughly 9.3 square metres. Used in real estate for the size of a house or its rooms, though progressively being replaced by square metres in metric countries such as Australia.
    2006: Just as the basic unit of real estate measurement across the world is the square ... — Macquarie Bank (Australia), press release Macquarie releases Real Estate Market Outlook 2006 - "The World Squared", 21 June 2006
    2007: The house is very large and open and boasts 39 squares of living space plus over 13 squares of decking area on 3 sides and 17 squares of garage and workshop downstairs. — Your Estate advertisement for Grindelwald Tasmania
  11. (roofing) A unit used in measuring roof area equivalent to 100 square feet (9.29 m2) of roof area.
  12. (Canada, US) A dessert cut into rectangular pieces, or a piece of such a dessert.
  13. (academia) A mortarboard
  14. (colloquial, US) A square meal.
    Even when times were tough, we got three squares a day.
  15. A pane of glass.
  16. (printing) A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers.
  17. (archaic) Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule.
    • Hooker
      They of Galatia [were] much more out of square.
    • Shakespeare
      I have not kept my square.
  18. The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level.
    • Dryden
      We live not on the square with such as these.
  19. (astrology) The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate.
  20. (dated) The act of squaring, or quarrelling; a quarrel.
  21. The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
  22. (slang) Cigarette.
  23. (brewing) A vat used for fermentation.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

body of troops in a square formation
  • Greek:
    Ancient: πλινθίον n ‎(plinthíon)

Adjective

square ‎(comparative squarer, superlative squarest)

  1. Shaped like a square (the polygon).
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess:
      The huge square box, parquet-floored and high-ceilinged, had been arranged to display a suite of bedroom furniture designed and made in the halcyon days of the last quarter of the nineteenth century, […] .
  2. Forming a right angle, especially (nautical) 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.
    a square corner
  3. Of numbers formed by multiplying two equal numbers.
    9 is a square number.‎
  4. Used in the names of units of area formed by multiplying a unit of length by itself.
    square metre‎
    square mile‎
  5. Honest; straightforward.
    square dealing
  6. Fair.
    I'm just looking for a square deal on my car repair.‎
  7. Even; tied
    to make or leave the accounts square
    • 2000 December 16, “Islanders, Devils Make It Tough For Canadian Teams”, in Bryan Times:
      The teams were square while at even strength. have to play better than even if we want to win games." said Montreal goalie Jose Theodore
    • 2003 April 9, “Lowe Struggles Again In Sox Setback”, in Record-Journal:
      But the Jays were square again by the end of the inning, as Myers hit a 2-and-0 pitch into the left-center field seats
    • 2003 November 24, “Els's mates get better with time”, in The Age, Melbourne, Vic.:
      The sides were square to the 14th hole when Goosen took birdie,
    • 2006 September 23, Jim McCabe, “As usual, Americans trailing after first day”, in The Columbus Dispatch:
      In each of the last three afternoon foursomes, the Americans were square through 15, but could only come in with two halves and a loss.
    The sides were square at the end of the half.‎
  8. (slang) Socially conventional; boring.
  9. (cricket) In line with the batsman's popping crease.
  10. Correctly aligned with respect to something else.
  11. hearty; vigorous
    It may be prison, but at least I'm getting three square meals a day.‎
    • Beaumont and Fletcher
      By Heaven, square eaters. More meat, I say.
  12. Having a shape broad for the height, with angular rather than curving outlines.
    a man of a square frame

Synonyms

Antonyms

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

square ‎(third-person singular simple present squares, present participle squaring, simple past and past participle squared)

  1. (transitive) To adjust so as to align with or place at a right angle to something else.
    The casting was mounted on a milling machine so that its sides could be squared.
  2. To resolve or reconcile.
    John can square this question up for us.
    These results just don't square.
  3. To adjust or adapt so as to bring into harmony with something.
    I cannot square the results of the experiment with my hypothesis.
    to square our actions by the opinions of others
    • Milton
      Square my trial / To my proportioned strength.
  4. (transitive, mathematics) Of a value, term, or expression, to multiply by itself; to raise to the second power.
  5. (transitive) To draw, with a pair of compasses and a straightedge only, a square with the same area as.
    square the circle
  6. (soccer) To make a short low pass sideways across the pitch
    • 2011 December 10, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton”, in BBC Sport:
      First, former Toffee Mikel Arteta sent Walcott racing clear but instead of shooting he squared towards Ramsey, who was foiled by Tony Hibbert.
  7. (archaic) To take opposing sides; to quarrel.
  8. To accord or agree exactly; to be consistent with; to suit; to fit.
    • Cowper
      No works shall find acceptance […] that square not truly with the Scripture plan.
  9. (obsolete) To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel.
    • Shakespeare
      Are you such fools / To square for this?
  10. To take a boxing attitude; often with up or off.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Charles Dickens to this entry?)
  11. To form with four sides and four right angles.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Edmund Spenser to this entry?)
  12. To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces.
    to square mason's work
  13. To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
  14. (astrology) To hold a quartile position respecting.
    • Creech
      the icy Goat and Crab that square the Scales
  15. (nautical) To place at right angles with the keel.
    to square the yards

Derived terms

Synonyms

  • (to multiply by itself) ²

Translations

See also

French

Etymology

From English square

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /skwaʁ/

Noun

square m ‎(plural squares)

  1. small public garden in the middle of a square
    Le square de la tour Saint-Jacques.

References

Anagrams

Etymology

From Old French esquarre (French équerre), from Vulgar Latin *exquadra, from ex- +‎ quadro.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /skwɛə(ɹ)/, /skwɛː(ɹ)/, enPR: skwâr
  • (US) IPA(key): /skwɛɚ/, enPR: skwâr
  • Rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ)

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