| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| square |
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| PRONUNCIATION: |  skwâr |
| NOUN: | 1. A plane figure having four equal sides. 2. Something having an equal-sided rectangular form: a square of cloth. 3. A T-shaped or L-shaped instrument for drawing or testing right angles. 4. Mathematics The product obtained when a number or quantity is multiplied by itself: 49 is the square of 7. 5. Games Any of the quadrilateral spaces on a board, as in chess. 6a. 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. b. A rectangular space enclosed by streets and occupied by buildings; a block. 7. Slang A person who is regarded as dull, rigidly conventional, and out of touch with current trends. 8. Slang A square meal. Often used in the plural: three squares a day. | | ADJECTIVE: | Inflected forms: squar·er, squar·est
1. Having four equal sides and four right angles. 2. Forming a right angle. 3a. abbr. sq. Expressed in units measuring area: square feet. b. Having a specified length in each of two equal dimensions: a room that is 12 feet square. 4. Having a base that is a square: a square pyramid. 5. Nautical Set at right angles to the mast and keel. Used of the yards of a square-rigged ship. 6. Approximately rectangular and equilateral in cross section: a square house. 7. Characterized by blocklike solidity or sturdiness. 8. Honest; direct: a square answer. 9. Just; equitable: a square deal. 10. Having all accounts settled; even. 11. Sports Even; tied. 12. Slang Rigidly conventional; dull. | | VERB: | Inflected forms: squared, squar·ing, squares
| | TRANSITIVE VERB: | 1. To cut to a square or rectangular shape. 2. To test for conformity to a desired plane, straight line, or right angle. 3. To mark into squares. Often used with off. 4a. To bring into conformity or agreement: She could not square the request with her principles. b. To bring (oneself) into a better position or relation: He tried to square himself with his parents. 5. To set straight or at approximate right angles: square one's cap. 6. To bring into balance; settle: square a debt. 7. Sports To even the score of: to square a game. 8. Mathematics a. To raise (a number or quantity) to the second power. b. To find a square equal in area to (the area of a given figure). 9. Informal To bribe or fix: a party in litigation that tried to square the judge. | | INTRANSITIVE VERB: | 1. Mathematics To be at right angles. 2. To agree or conform: a story that doesn't square with the facts. | | ADVERB: | 1. Mathematics At right angles. 2. In a square shape. 3. In a solid manner; firmly. 4. Directly; straight: ran square into each other. 5. In an honest, straightforward manner. | | PHRASAL VERBS: | square away 1. Nautical To square the yards of a sailing vessel. 2. To put away or in order. square off To assume a fighting stance; prepare to fight. square up To settle a bill or debt. | | IDIOMS: | on the square 1. Mathematics At right angles. 2. Honestly and openly: has always dealt on the square. out of square 1. Mathematics Not at exact right angles. 2. Not in agreement. square peg in a round hole Informal A misfit. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, from Old French esquarre, from Vulgar Latin *exquadra, from *exquadr re, to square : Latin ex-, ex- + quadrre, to give a square shape to (from quadrum, a square; see kwetwer- in Appendix I). | | OTHER FORMS: | square ness —NOUN
squarer —NOUN
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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