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   square

   /skwɛː/

   noun

   • 1. a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles: "a grid of ruled squares"
   • ▪ a thing that is square or approximately square in shape: "she tore a bit of cloth into a four-inch square"
   • ▪ a thing having the shape or approximate shape of a cube: "a small square of chocolate"
   • ▪ a small square area on the board used in a game: "move the white king's pawn forward two squares"
   • ▪ a body of infantry drawn up in rectangular form. historical
   • ▪ a unit of 100 square ft used as a measure of flooring, roofing, etc.
   • ▪ a square scarf.
   • ▪ a mortar board. British
   • ▪ the portion of the cover of a bound book which projects beyond the pages.
   • 2. an open, typically four-sided, area surrounded by buildings in a village, town, or city: "a market square" Similar marketplaceclosequadranglequadcourtyardarcademallgalleriaprecinctforumplazapiazza
   • ▪ an open area at the meeting of streets.
   • ▪ a closer-cut area at the centre of a ground, any strip of which may be prepared as a wicket.
   • ▪ an area within a military barracks or camp used for drill.
   • ▪ a block of buildings bounded by four streets. US
   • 3. the product of a number multiplied by itself: "a circle's area is proportional to the square of its radius"
   • 4. an L-shaped or T-shaped instrument used for obtaining or testing right angles: "a carpenter's square"
   • ▪ an aspect of 90° (one quarter of a circle): "Venus in square to Jupiter"
   • 5. a person considered to be old-fashioned or boringly conventional in attitude or behaviour: informal "Reg is such a square" Similar (old) fogeyconservativetraditionalistconventionalistdiehardconformistbourgeoismuseum piecefossildinosaurtroglodyteinformal:stick-in-the-mudfuddy-duddyback numberstuffed shirtsobersides
   • ▪ a cigarette containing tobacco rather than cannabis. North American
   • 6. a square meal: informal North American "three squares a day"

   adjective

   • 1. having the shape or approximate shape of a square: "a square table" Similar quadrilateralrectangularoblongright-angledat right anglesperpendicularstraightstraight onlevelparallelhorizontaluprightverticaltrueplanecubic
   • ▪ having the shape or approximate shape of a cube: "a square block of flats"
   • ▪ having or in the form of two right angles: "a suitable length of wood with square ends"
   • ▪ having an outline resembling two corners of a square: "his square jaw"
   • ▪ broad and solid in shape: "he was short and square"
   • 2. denoting a unit of measurement equal to the area of a square whose side is of the unit specified: "30,000 square feet of new gallery space"
   • ▪ denoting the length of each side of a square shape or object: "the office was fifteen feet square"
   • 3. at right angles; perpendicular: "these lines must be square to the top and bottom marked edges"
   • ▪ in a direction transversely across the field or pitch: "Keen's square pass was rammed home first time by Bishop"
   • ▪ having or denoting an aspect of 90°: "Jupiter is square to the Sun"
   • 4. level or parallel: "place two pieces of wood one on top of the other, ensuring that they are exactly square"
   • ▪ properly arranged; in good order: "we should get everything square before we leave"
   • ▪ compatible or in agreement: "he wanted to make sure we were square with the court's decision and not subject to a lawsuit"
   • ▪ fair and honest: "she'd been as square with him as anybody could be" Similar fairhonestjustequitablestraighttrueuprightabove boardethicaldecentproperright and properhonourablegenuineinformal:on the levelOpposite underhand
   • 5. (of two people) owing nothing to each other: "an acknowledgement that we are square"
   • ▪ with both players or sides having equal scores in a game: "the goal brought the match all square once again" Similar levelevendrawnequalall squaretiedbalancedon a levelin a position of equalityclose togetherneck and necklevel peggingnip and tuckside by sideon a parevenly matchedwith nothing to choose between theminformal:even-steven(s)Opposite uneven
   • 6. old-fashioned or boringly conventional: informal "Elvis was anything but square" Similar old-fashionedbehind the timesout of dateconservativetraditionalistconventionaldiehardconformistbourgeoisstrait-lacedfogeyishstuffyunadventurousboringinformal:stick-in-the-mudfuddy-duddyOpposite trendy
   • 7. (of rhythm) simple and straightforward.

   adverb

   • 1. directly; straight: "the ball hit me square in the forehead"
   • ▪ fairly; honestly: informal "I'd acted square with him"
   • 2. in a direction transversely across the field or pitch: "the ball bounced almost square to the left"

   verb

   • 1. make square or rectangular; give a square or rectangular cross section to: "you can square off the other edge"
   • ▪ mark out in squares: "that this watercolour was a first draft is made clear by the fact that the sheet of paper has been squared"
   • 2. multiply (a number) by itself: "5 squared equals 25"
   • 3. balance (an account): "institutions are anxious to square their books before the election"
   • ▪ make the score of (a match or game) even: "his goal squared the match 1–1" Similar make equalevenlevel
   • 4. bring (one's shoulders) into a position in which they appear square and broad, typically to prepare oneself for a difficult task or event: "chin up, shoulders squared, she stepped into the room"
   • ▪ adopt a posture of defence.
   • 5. secure the help or acquiescence of (someone), especially by offering an inducement: informal "faced with such declarations, politicians were resolved to squash or square the press" Similar bribebuy offbuycorruptsuborngive an inducement toinformal:grease someone's palmgive a backhander togive a sweetener to
   • 6. pass (a ball) across the field, especially towards the centre.
   • 7. set (a yard or other part of a ship) at right angles to the keel or other point of reference.
   • 8. (of a planet) have a square aspect with (another planet or position): "Saturn squares the Sun on the 17th"

   Word Origin Middle English: shortening of Old French esquare (noun), esquarre (past participle, used as an adjective), esquarrer (verb), based on Latin quadra ‘square’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. squareness noun
   • 2. squarer noun
   • 3. squarish adjective

   Scrabble Points: 15

   • S

     1

   • Q

     10

   • U

     1

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

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