Collins English-English Dictionary

square [skwεə]

1. 1. n a plane geometric figure having four equal sides and four right angles - Compare rectangle rhombus

2. 2. n any object, part, or arrangement having this or a similar shape

   a square of carpet

   a square on a chess board

3. 3. n [capital when part of name] an open area in a town, sometimes including the surrounding buildings, which may form a square

4. 4. n [maths] the product of two equal factors; the second power

   9 is the square of 3, written 3²

5. 5. n 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. 6. n [cricket] the closely-cut area in the middle of a ground on which wickets are prepared

7. 7. n a body of soldiers drawn up in the form of a square

8. 8. n [rowing] the position of the blade of an oar perpendicular to the surface of the water just before and during a stroke

9. 9. n [informal] a person who is old-fashioned in views, customs, appearance, etc

10. 10. n [astrology] an aspect of about 90° between two planets, etc - Compare conjunction opposition trine

11. 11. n [obsolete] a standard, pattern, or rule

12. 12. adj being a square in shape

13. 13. adj having or forming one or more right angles or being at right angles to something

14. 14. adj square or rectangular in section

    a square bar

15. 15. adj

16. 16. adj [prenominal] denoting a measure of area of any shape

    a circle of four square feet

17. 17. adj [immediately postpositive] denoting a square having a specified length on each side

    a board four feet square contains 16 square feet

18. 18. adj fair and honest (esp in the phrase a square deal)

19. 19. adj straight, even, or level

    a square surface

20. 20. adj [cricket] at right angles to the wicket

    square leg

21. 21. adj [sport] in a straight line across the pitch

    a square pass

22. 22. adj [nautical] (of the sails of a square-rigger) set at right angles to the keel

23. 23. adj [informal] old-fashioned in views, customs, appearance, etc

24. 24. adj stocky or sturdy

    square shoulders

25. 25. adj [postpositive] having no remaining debts or accounts to be settled

26. 26. adj (of a horse's gait) sound, steady, or regular

27. 27. adj [prenominal] unequivocal or straightforward

    a square contradiction

28. 28. adj [postpositive] neat and tidy

29. 29. adj [maths] (of a matrix) having the same number of rows and columns

30. 30. vb [mainly tr] to make into a square or similar shape

31. 31. vb [maths] to raise (a number or quantity) to the second power

32. 32. vb to test or adjust for deviation with respect to a right angle, plane surface, etc

33. 33. vb [sometimes foll by off] to divide into squares

34. 34. vb to position so as to be rectangular, straight, or level

    square the shoulders

35. 35. vb [sometimes foll by up] to settle (debts, accounts, etc)

36. 36. vb to level (the score) in a game, etc

37. 37. vb [also intr; often foll by with] to agree or cause to agree

    your ideas don't square with mine

38. 38. vb [rowing] to turn (an oar) perpendicular to the surface of the water just before commencing a stroke

39. 39. vb (in canoeing) to turn (a paddle) perpendicular to the direction of the canoe at the commencement of a stroke - Compare feather

40. 40. vb to arrange (something), esp by a corrupt method or come to an arrangement with (someone), as by bribery

41. 41. adv in order to be square

42. 42. adv at right angles

43. 43. adv [sport] in a straight line across the pitch

    pass the ball square

44. 44. adv [informal] squarely

45. 45. adv See also square away square off square up

46. 46. adv [Etymology] C13: from Old French esquare, from Vulgar Latin exquadra (unattested), from Latin ex¹ + quadrare to make square; see quadrant