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noun A2 Elementary Very common

square

skweh-uh

Square (noun) means a four-sided shape with equal sides and right angles. Example: “She drew a square on the graph paper.”

noun
1
A four-sided shape with equal sides and right angles.
"She drew a square on the graph paper."
2
An open public area in a town or city, often surrounded by buildings.
"Tourists gathered in the main square to watch the parade."
adj
1
Forming or having right angles.
"Make sure the shelf is square before you screw it in."
2
Fair, honest, and straightforward.
"He gave me a square deal on the used car."
3
Informal: old-fashioned or conventional in a boring way.
"His parents thought rock music was for squares."
verb
1
To multiply a number by itself.
"If you square four, you get sixteen."
2
To make something agree or match with something else.
"His story didn't square with what the witnesses said."
"I need to square my schedule with yours before we book the flights."

How to use square

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe four-sided shape, a public plaza, having right angles, being honest and fair, or — as a verb — to multiply a number by itself or make two things match up.

Common mistake

As slang for a boring, conventional person, "square" is dated — it reads as 1950s-60s slang today.

Common pairings
town square square deal square up square the numbers

Word forms

squarer comparative, more square comparative, squared past tense, Squares plural, squares singular, squarest superlative, most square superlative

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Test yourself on “square” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She drew a _____ on the graph paper.

Etymology

From Old French esquarre, ultimately from Latin ex- plus quadrus ("four-sided"); a doublet of "squad."

Origin: Latin

straight lame feather square up foursquare square toes second power public square

Related words

Rhymes for square

See all rhymes for square →

Frequently asked questions

What does “square” mean?

The word “square” means a four-sided shape with equal sides and right angles. In plain terms, the four-sided shape, a public plaza, having right angles, being honest and fair, or — as a verb — to multiply a number by itself or make two things match up.

How do you pronounce “square”?

“Square” is pronounced skweh-uh (/skwɛɹ/ in IPA).

How do you use “square” in a sentence?

Here is “square” used in a sentence: “She drew a square on the graph paper.”

What part of speech is “square”?

Depending on how it is used, “square” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.

Where does the word “square” come from?

The word “square” comes from Latin. From Old French esquarre, ultimately from Latin ex- plus quadrus ("four-sided"); a doublet of "squad.".

Is “square” a common word?

“Square” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “square” have?

“Square” has 7 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a four-sided shape with equal sides and right angles.

What is the difference between a square and a rectangle?

Both have four straight sides and four right angles, but a square must have all four sides equal in length, while a rectangle only needs its opposite sides to match. This makes a square a special kind of rectangle: every square is a rectangle, but most rectangles, being longer than they are wide, are not squares.

What is the difference between a square and a rhombus?

A rhombus has four equal sides, just like a square, but its corners are not right angles — it looks like a leaning or diamond shape. A square is effectively a rhombus straightened to ninety-degree corners. So a square is both a special rectangle and a special rhombus, combining equal sides with right angles.

What are the properties of a square?

A square has four equal sides and four right angles of ninety degrees. Its opposite sides are parallel, its two diagonals are equal in length and cross at right angles, and it has four lines of symmetry. These features make it one of the most regular and balanced shapes in geometry.

Does 'square' have other meanings?

Yes. Beyond the shape, a square can be an open public space in a town, the result of multiplying a number by itself (nine is the square of three), or a tool for drawing right angles. Informally it can even describe someone seen as dull or conventional. Context makes the meaning clear.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial