square

1 of 4

noun

1
: an instrument having at least one right angle and two straight edges used especially to lay out or test right angles
2
: a rectangle with all four sides equal
3
: any of the quadrilateral spaces marked out on a board for playing games
4
: the product of a number multiplied by itself
5
a
: an open place or area formed at the meeting of two or more streets
6
: a solid object or piece approximating a cube or having a square as its largest face
7
: an unopened cotton flower with its enclosing bracts
8
: a person who is conventional or conservative in taste or way of life
9
: a square meal
ate three squares a day

square

2 of 4

adjective

squarer; squarest
1
a
: having four equal sides and four right angles
b
: forming a right angle
square corner
c
: having a square base
a square pyramid
2
: raised to the second power
3
a
: being approximately a cube
square cabinet
b
: having a shape that is broad for the height and rectangular rather than curving in outline
square shoulders
a square, thick, hard-working manMaria Edgeworth
c
: rectangular and equilateral in section
square tower
4
a
: being or converted to a unit of area equal in measure to a square each side of which measures one unit of a specified unit of length
a square foot
see Metric System Table, Weights and Measures Table
b
: being of a specified length in each of two equal dimensions
10 feet square
5
a
: exactly adjusted : precisely constructed or aligned
b
: just, fair
a square deal
square in all his dealings
c
: leaving no balance : settled
d
: even, tied
e
: substantial, satisfying
square meal
f
: being unsophisticated, conservative, or conventional
6
: set at right angles with the mast and keel
used of the yards of a square-rigged ship
squareness noun

square

3 of 4

verb

squared; squaring

transitive verb

1
a
: to make square or rectangular
square a building stone
b
: to test for deviation from a right angle, straight line, or plane surface
2
: to bring approximately to a right angle
squared his shoulders
3
a
: to multiply (a number) by itself : raise to the second power
b
: to find a square equal in area to
square a circle
4
: to regulate or adjust by or to some standard or principle
square our actions by the opinions of othersJohn Milton
5
a
: balance, settle
square an account
b
: to even the score of
6
: to mark off into squares
7
a
: to set right : bring into agreement
squared their goals with their beliefs
b
: bribe, fix

intransitive verb

1
: to agree precisely : correspond
your actions should square with your words
2
: to settle matters
especially : to pay the bill
squarer noun

square

4 of 4

adverb

1
: in a straightforward or honest manner
2
a
: so as to face or be face-to-face
b
: at right angles
3
: with nothing intervening : directly
ran square into it
4
: in a firm manner
looked her square in the eye
5
: in a square shape
Phrases
on the square
1
: at right angles
2
: in a fair open manner : honestly
out of square
: not at an exact right angle

Examples of square in a Sentence

Noun The fabric is decorated with circles and squares. Cut the brownies into squares. The board has red and black squares. Adjective The room has four square corners. received a square hearing from the disciplinary panel Verb The machine squares the wood into flat boards. If you square 3, you get 9.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
For example, on September 26 the square became the center of the International, annual, surprise dinner party Dîner en Blanc. Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 The downtown square, with its vintage architecture, Italianate courthouse, and historic markers, is a gathering place for good conversation, afternoon relaxation, local shopping, and delicious dining. Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The villa in Mexico is a 20-minute drive from Tulum spans across 8,600 square feet with eight bedrooms. Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 17 Oct. 2024 The electric heater warms up in seconds, heating up to 200 square feet with minimal noise. Maggie Horton, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
Here's What Your Biggest Challenge in October Will Be, According to Your Zodiac Sign When the sun in Libra squares Mars in Cancer, the result is a clash between the need for harmony versus the drive to guard our emotions. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024 Notre-Dame’s medieval artisans—the blacksmiths who forged the axes, hewers who squared the timber, joiners who connected the timbers without nails or screws—represented a savoir-faire, or expertise, that has all but died out in the age of Ikea. Seyward Darby, Longreads, 9 Oct. 2024
Adverb
On Lap 36, Power spun Benjamin Pedersen rounding the final corner after the race had restarted, and Castroneves ran square into the A.J. Foyt Racing car. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Sep. 2023 The Juncos Hollinger Racing driver didn’t brake soon enough and ran square into the back of Kyle Kirkwood, demolishing his rear wing. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 5 June 2023 See all Example Sentences for square 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word '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

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French esquarre, from Vulgar Latin *exquadra, from *exquadrare to square, from Latin ex- + quadrare to square — more at quadrate

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adverb

circa 1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of square was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near square

Cite this Entry

“Square.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/square. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

square

1 of 4 noun
ˈskwa(ə)r How to pronounce square (audio)
ˈskwe(ə)r
1
: an instrument having at least one right angle and two straight edges used to draw or test right angles
2
: a rectangle with all four sides equal
3
: any of the four-sided spaces marked out on a board for playing games
4
: the product of a number multiplied by itself
4 is the square of 2
5
a
: an open place or area formed at the meeting of two or more streets

square

2 of 4 adjective
squarer; squarest
1
a
: having four equal sides and four right angles
a square piece of paper
b
: forming a right angle
a square corner
c
: having a square base
a square pyramid
2
a
: being approximately a cube
a square cabinet
b
: of a shape suggesting strength and toughness
a square jaw
square shoulders
c
: having the shape of a square as its cross section
a square tower
3
a
: being a unit of area that has the shape of a square and sides of a specified unit length
a square foot
b
: being of a specified length in each of two equal dimensions
10 feet square
4
a
: exactly adjusted : well made
b
: just entry 1 sense 2a, fair
a square deal
c
: leaving no balance : settled
d
: being tied in score
the golfers were all square after five holes
e
: large enough to satisfy
three square meals a day
5
: not knowing or following the latest styles
squareness noun

square

3 of 4 verb
squared; squaring
1
: to form with right angles, straight edges, and flat surfaces : make square or rectangular
square a timber
2
: to bring to a right angle
squared his shoulders
3
a
: to multiply (a number) by itself : to raise (a number) to the second power
b
: to find a square equal in area to
square a circle
4
: to agree or make agree
his story does not square with the facts
5
: balance entry 2 sense 1, settle
square an account
6
: to mark off into squares
7
8
: to take a fighting stance
the two squared off

square

4 of 4 adverb
: in a direct, firm, or honest manner
looked her square in the eye

Medical Definition

square

adjective
: being or converted to a unit of area equal in measure to a square each side of which measures one unit of a specified unit of length
a square foot

Legal Definition

square

adjective
: fitting the factual or legal situation at bar
we have been shown no square holding of a Florida court to that effectMilhet Caterers, Inc. v. North Western Meat, Inc., 185 So. 2d 196 (1966)
squarely adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on square

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