square
• noun 1 a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles. 2 an open, typically four-sided, area surrounded by buildings. 3 an area within a military barracks or camp used for drill. 4 the product of a number multiplied by itself. 5 an L-shaped or T-shaped instrument used for obtaining or testing right angles. 6 informal an old-fashioned or boringly conventional person. • adjective 1 having the shape of a square. 2 having or forming a right angle. 3 referring to a unit of measurement equal to the area of a square whose side is of the unit specified. 4 after a noun denoting the length of each side of a square shape or object: the room was ten metres square. 5 at right angles. 6 level or parallel. 7 broad and solid in shape. 8 fair and honest. 9 informal old-fashioned or boringly conventional. • adverb directly; straight. • verb 1 make square or rectangular. 2 (squared) marked out in squares. 3 multiply (a number) by itself. 4 (square with) make or be compatible. 5 settle (a bill or debt). 6 make the score of (a match or game) even. 7 informal secure the co-operation of (someone) by offering an inducement. 8 bring (one’s shoulders) into a position in which they appear square and broad. — PHRASES back to square one informal back to where one started. square the circle 1 construct a square equal in area to a given circle (a problem incapable of a purely geometrical solution). 2 do something considered to be impossible. a square deal see DEAL1. a square peg in a round hole see PEG. square up 1 assume the attitude of a person about to fight. 2 (square up to) face and tackle (a difficulty) resolutely. — DERIVATIVES squareness noun squarer noun squarish adjective. — ORIGIN Old French esquare, from Latin quadra ‘square’.
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