English主要词典
square
Universal Words
adjective, noun, verb, adverb
adjective
shape
1 (geometry) having four straight equal sides and four angles of 90ー:
a square room / table
2 forming an angle of 90ー exactly or approximately:
The book had rounded, not square, corners. * square shoulders * He had a firm, square jaw.
measurement
3 used after a unit of measurement to say that sth measures the same amount on each of four sides:
a carpet four metres square
4 (abbreviation sq) used after a number to give a measurement of area:
an area of 36 square metres
broad / solid
5 used to describe sth that is broad or that looks solid in shape:
a man / woman of square build
seealsoFOUR-SQUARE
level / parallel
6 [notbeforenoun] ~ (with sth) level with or parallel to sth:
tables arranged square with the wall
with money
7 (informal) if two people are square, neither of them owes money to the other:
Here's the 」10 I owe you-now we're square.
in sport
8 ~ (with sb) if two teams are square, they have the same number of points:
The teams were all square at half-time.
fair / honest
9 fair or honest, especially in business matters:
a square deal * Are you being square with me?
in agreement
10 ~ with sth in agreement with sth:
That isn't quite square with what you said yesterday.
boring
11 (informal, disapproving) (of a person) considered to be boring, for example, because they are old-fashioned or work too hard at school
IDIOMS
a square meal a good, satisfying meal:
He looks as though he hasn't had a square meal for weeks.
a square peg (in a round hole) (BrE, informal) a person who does not feel happy or comfortable in a particular situation, or who is not suitable for it
noun
shape
1 [C] a shape with four straight sides of equal length and four angles of 90ー; a piece of sth that has this shape:
First break the chocolate into squares. * The floor was tiled in squares of grey and white marble.
in town
2 [C] an open area in a town, usually with four sides, surrounded by buildings:
The hotel is just off the main square. * the market / town / village square
3 (Square) [sing.] (abbreviation Sq.) (used in addresses):
They live at 95 Russell Square.
mathematics
4 [C] the number obtained when you multiply a number by itself:
The square of 7 is 49.
seealsoSETSQUARE, T-SQUARE
boring person
5 [C] (informal, disapproving) a person who is considered to be boring, for example because they are old-fashioned or because they work too hard at school
IDIOMS
back to square one a return to the situation you were in at the beginning of a project, task, etc., because you have made no real progress:
If this suggestion isn't accepted, we'll be back to square one.
verb [VN]
shape
1 ~ sth (off) to make sth have straight edges and corners:
It was like trying to square a circle. That is, it was impossible. * The boat is rounded at the front but squared off at the back.
mathematics
2 [usuallypassive] to multiply a number by itself:
Three squared is written 3. * Four squared equals 16.
shoulders
3 if you square yourself, or square your shoulders, you make your back and shoulders straight to show you are ready or determined to do sth:
Bruno squared himself to face the waiting journalists.
in sport
4 (especially BrE) to make the number of points you have scored in a game or competition equal to those of your opponents:
His goal squared the game 11.
pay money
5 (informal) to pay money to sb in order to get their help:
They must have squared the mayor before they got their plan underway.
PHRASALVERBS
square away [usuallypassive] (AmE) to put sth in order; to finish sth completely
square off (against sb) (AmE) to fight or prepare to fight sb:
The two candidates will square off on this issue in a debate tomorrow.
square up (to sb/sth)
1 to face a difficult situation and deal with it in a determined way
2 to face sb as if you are going to fight them:
Diane squared up to him defiantly.
square up (with sb) to pay money that you owe:
Can I leave you to square up with the waiter?
square sth with sth