square

Etymology

From Middle English square, sqware, squyre; from Old French esquarre, esquerre, (modern French équerre), from Vulgar Latin *exquadra, from Latin ex- + quadro, from quadrus. Displaced fēowerecge (fēower nominative + ecg accusative, as in "four-edged").

noun

1. (geometry) A polygon with four sides of equal length and four right angles; an equilateral rectangle; a regular quadrilateral.
   I took refuge in the square form and exhibited a picture which consisted of nothing more than a black square on a white field. 1927, Kazimir Malevich, The Non-Objective World
2. Something characterized by a square, or nearly square, form.
   1. A cell in a grid.
      You may not move a piece to a square already occupied by one of your own pieces.
   2. A square piece, part, or surface.
      a square of glass
   3. The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered.
   4. (Canada, US) A dessert cut into rectangular pieces, or a piece of such a dessert.
   5. (printing) A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers.
      Coordinate term: column inch
3. 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. a. 2018, Bob Vila, “Carpenter squares”, in Bob Vila, retrieved 2018-01-09
   1. (figurative, obsolete) A true measure, standard, or pattern.
4. An open space or park, often in the center of a town, not necessarily square in shape, often containing trees, seating and other features pleasing to the eye.
   You're not in Wisconsin, Dave. The big story isn't about a cow wandering into the town square. October 10 1995, NewsRadio, season 2, episode 3
   1. (often in street names or addresses) A street surrounding a public square or plaza.
5. (mathematics) The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; the second power of a number, value, term or expression.
   64 is the square of 8.
6. (military formation) A body of troops drawn up in a square formation.
   1818, quoted in Christopher Kelly, History of the French Revolution and of the Wars produced by that Memorable Event The French cavalry, in proof armour, repeatedly charged our squares, their cannon opening chasms; but the British infantry, though greatly diminished, were inflexible and impenetrable to the last.
   The sand of the desert is sodden red,— Red with the wreck of a square that broke;— The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel dead, And the regiment blind with dust and smoke. 1897, Henry Newbolt, Vitae Lampada
   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. 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 144
7. (1950s slang) A socially conventional or conservative person; a person who has little or no interest in the latest fads or trends: still sometimes used in modern terminology.
   Why do you always wear a tie? Don't be such a square!
   Good looks are important, but good looks don't hold if he's a square. 1949-03-11, “R.S.V.P.”, in Courier, volume xv, number 9, Harvey, IL: Thornton Junior College, page 3
   She said: Wow! What a square! Don't you dig the scene? / Daddy Cool's playing his piano machine! 1957, Frank Slay, Bob Crewe (lyrics and music), “Daddy Cool”, performed by The Rays
   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. 1957, “Jailhouse Rock”, Elvis Presley (music)
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 or 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) A unit of measurement of area, equal to a 10 foot by 10 foot square, i.e. 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, Macquarie Bank (Australia), press release Macquarie releases Real Estate Market Outlook 2006 - "The World Squared", 21 June 2006 http://www.macquarie.com.au/au/about_macquarie/media_centre/20060621.htm Just as the basic unit of real estate measurement across the world is the square
    2007, Your Estate advertisement for Grindelwald Tasmania http://www.yourestate.com.au/property_12753.php 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.
11. (roofing) A unit used in measuring roof area equivalent to 100 square feet (9.29 m²) of roof area. The materials for roofing jobs are often billed by the square in the United States.
12. (academia) A mortarboard.
13. (colloquial, US) Ellipsis of square meal.
    Even when times were tough, we got three squares a day.
14. (archaic) Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule.
    1594-1597, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie They of Galatia [were] much more out of square.
15. The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level.
16. (astrology) The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate.
17. (dated) The act of squaring, or quarrelling; a quarrel.
18. (slang) Cigarette.
19. (brewing) A vat used for fermentation.
20. (slang, MLE) A well-defined core of a human body, a flat section from the fundament to the thoracic diaphragm.
    She wanna talk about feelings But I don't believe in love Just give me your square 24-07-2019, “No Feelings”, Quezgo (lyrics)Link Up TV, 0:14–0:19
    I don’t really care about them man there Tell the bad b “just swing your square” 29-09-2021, “Bars At The Sesh [S3.E7]”, #D15 Trigz (lyrics)Dearfxch TV, 1:05–1:08
    Get on your knees and suck this dick Get on your knees and slop this quick Bro knows I could never put trust in a bitch (Never) Me and Tz like Lilo ’n Stitch So don’t hesitate to swing me your shit Yeah, swing your square 2021-11-18, “I Love to Scam”, Tankz (lyrics), 2:01–2:10

adj

1. Shaped like a square (the polygon).
   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, […]. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess
2. Forming a right angle (90°).
   1. (of box-shaped objects such as buildings or metal frames) Forming right angles in all planes as intended; not racked or leaning.
      The stacks had to be neat and square or the old guy grumbled and insisted on getting it just so. 2019, Bruce W. Herdman, Ozarks Lite
      The foundation has to be level and the framing has to be square.
   2. (nautical) Forming 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.
3. Used in the names of units of area formed by multiplying a unit of length by itself.
   square metre
   square mile
4. Honest; straightforward; fair.
   I'm just looking for a square deal on my car repair.
   square dealing
   Why, you would not be boosing till lightman's in a square crib like mine, as if you were in a flash panny? 1828, Edward Bulwer Lytton Baron Lytton, Pelham, Or, Adventures of a Gentleman
   I believe you're a good, square man 1900 [1878], Allan Pinkerton, Criminal Reminiscences and Detective Sketches, New York: G. W. Dillingham, page 29
   I am not very good at analysing things, but I felt that she talked a little uncomfortably and with a suspicion of effort, smiled rather conventionally, and was obviously glad to go. These things seem trifling enough to repeat, but I had throughout the faint feeling that everything was not square. 1908, Perceval Landon, Thurnley Abbey
5. Satisfied; comfortable with; not experiencing any conflict.
   By the confident tone in her voice, you can tell she is square with that. 2007, Lauren Heaton, Holly Bollinger, Catherine Lee Phillips, Susan Gartner, Women of the Harvest, page 63
   " […] I will never act on it, but if you're satisfied with the way things are then I am, too. […] So, are we square?” 2009, Ramona Holliday, Winter Murders
6. Even; tied
   to make or leave the accounts square
   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 December 16, 2000, “Islanders, Devils Make It Tough For Canadian Teams”, in Bryan Times
   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 April 9, 2003, “Lowe Struggles Again In Sox Setback”, in Record-Journal
   The sides were square to the 14th hole when Goosen took birdie, November 24, 2003, “Els's mates get better with time”, in The Age, Melbourne, Vic.
   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. September 23, 2006, Jim McCabe, “As usual, Americans trailing after first day”, in The Columbus Dispatch
   The sides were square at the end of the half.
7. (slang, derogatory) Socially conventional; boring.
   The square Johns lie more than the in-guys do. 2014, A. W. Gray, In Defense of Judges
   It was a square town, but that didn't bother me. I knew I didn't have to live a square life. 2020, Jack Olsen, The Girls on the Campus, page 100
8. (cricket) In line with the batsman's popping crease.
9. Solid, decent, substantial.
   It may be prison, but at least I'm getting three square meals a day.
   It is obvious two o'clock will arrive in about five and a half hours from now, and I presume every gentleman in the House would like to get a square breakfast. 1879, United States. Congress, Congressional Record, Volume 9, page 1594
   If some of you who read this paragraph would quit scheming and get down to honest, square effort this year, your creditors would get their due and your families would be better kept. 1899 February, “Stray Shots From Solomon”, in Shoe and Leather Journal, volume 12, number 2, page 51
   "Sarah," said her grandmother. "You should eat a good square meal." 1986, Jan Irving, Robin Currie, Mudluscious, page 75
   I said that because I didn't want any knives involved, and if Wizzie agreed to a square go now, with half the school listening, she couldn't go back on it. 2012, Cathy MacPhail, Worse Than Boys
10. Having a shape broad for the height, with angular rather than curving outlines.
    a man of a square frame
11. (automotive) Of an internal combustion engine design, in which the diameter of the piston is similar, roughly, approximately, equal to its stroke distance.

adv

1. Directly.
   Staash tipped up the rim of his hat and looked me square in the eyes as the cigarette dangled from his lips. 2012, Allan A. Zarbock, Nobody, page 211

verb

1. (transitive) To adjust so as to align with or place at a right angle to something else; in particular:
   1. (nautical) To place at a right angle to the mast or keel.
      to square the yards
   2. (rowing) To rotate the oars so that they are perpendicular to the water.
2. (transitive, intransitive) To resolve or reconcile; to suit or fit.
   John can square this question up for us.
   These results just don't square with what we expected.
3. (transitive) 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
4. (transitive, mathematics) Of a value, term, or expression, to multiply by itself; to raise to the second power.
5. (transitive, geometry) To draw, with a pair of compasses and a straightedge only, a square with the same area as.
   square the circle
6. (transitive, geometry) To tile (completely fill) with squares.
7. (soccer) To make a short low pass sideways across the pitch
   First, former Toffee Mikel Arteta sent Walcott racing clear but instead of shooting he squared towards Ramsey, who was foiled by Tony Hibbert. December 10, 2011, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton”, in BBC Sport
8. (archaic) To take opposing sides; to quarrel.
9. To accord or agree exactly; to be consistent with; to suit; to fit.
   No works shall find acceptance […] that square not truly with the Scripture plan. 1782, William Cowper, Charity
10. (obsolete) To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel.
11. To take a boxing attitude; often with up or off.
12. To form with four sides and four right angles.
13. To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces.
    to square mason's work
    Everything on his writing desk was squared off: blotter, paper knife, pen rack. 2002, William Boyd, Any Human Heart
14. To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard.
15. (astrology) To hold a quartile position respecting.
    the icy Goat, the Crab that square the Scales 1697, Thomas Creech, The five books of M. Manilius containing a system of the ancient astronomy and astrology, done into English verse