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