perfect square

noun

: an integer (such as 9 or 36) whose square root is an integer

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Use it to cut a perfect square of wrapping paper. —

Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2021 Pale orange, velvety smooth, and tangy as Pinkberry, a perfect square of American cheese or Velveeta melts all in one piece. —

Veronique Greenwood, Discover Magazine, 18 Sep. 2011 The painting is enormous (about 53 square feet) and a quarter-of-an-inch shy of being a perfect square. —

Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2022 Chin frames up another perfect square in a seasonal ice cave that forms on the Athabasca Glacier. —

Grayson Schaffer, Outside Online, 14 May 2015 The perfect square of frozen American cheese, bright, plasticky yellow circles of egg-cornstarch-milk patties—is this Lego food? —

Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 7 Oct. 2021 That outgoing 256-game schedule a perfect square, just as 16 is. —

Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 13 May 2021 Greengrass captures the two of them outside the house, viewed through a window that frames them in a near-perfect square. —

Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune, 11 Jan. 2021 The units digit of a perfect square can only be 0, 1, 4, 5, 6 or 9. —

Quanta Magazine, 18 Nov. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perfect square.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of perfect square was in 1811

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near perfect square

perfect score

perfect square

perfect storm

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Perfect square.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfect%20square. Accessed 28 May. 2023.

Copy Citation