skwɛə n.,
adj., adv., & v. --n. 1 an
equilateral rectangle. 2 a an
object of
this shape or approximately this shape. b a
small square
area on a game-board. c a square scarf. d an
academic cap with a
stiff square top; a
mortarboard. 3 a an
open (usu. four-sided) area surrounded by buildings,
esp.
one planted with trees etc.
and surrounded by houses. b an open area at
the meeting of streets. c Cricket a closer-cut area at the
centre of a ground,
any strip of
which may be prepared as a
wicket. d an area
within barracks etc.
for drill. e US a
block of buildings bounded by
four streets. 4 the
product of a
number multiplied by
itself (81 is the square of 9). 5 an L-shaped or T-shaped
instrument for obtaining or testing
right angles. 6 sl. a
conventional or old-fashioned
person, one
ignorant of or opposed to
current trends. 7 a square
arrangement of letters, figures, etc. 8 a
body of
infantry drawn up in
rectangular form. 9 a
unit of 100 sq. ft. as a
measure of
flooring etc. 10 US a square meal (three squares a day). --adj. 1 having the shape of a square. 2 having or in the form of a right
angle (table with square corners). 3
angular and
not round; of square
section (has a square jaw). 4 designating a unit of measure
equal to the area of a square
whose side is one of the unit specified (square metre). 5 (often foll. by with) a
level,
parallel. b on a
proper footing; even,
quits. 6 a (usu. foll. by to) at right angles. b Cricket on a line
through the stumps at right angles to the wicket. 7 having the
breadth more nearly equal to the
length or
height than is
usual (a
man of square frame). 8
properly arranged; in
good order, settled (get things square). 9 (also
all square) a not in
debt, with no
money owed. b having equal scores, esp.
Golf having
won the
same number of holes as one's
opponent. c (of scores) equal. 10 fair and
honest (his
dealings are not
always quite square). 11
uncompromising,
direct,
thorough (was met with a square refusal). 12 sl. conventional or old-fashioned,
unsophisticated,
conservative (cf.
sense 6 of n.). 13 Mus. (of rhythm)
simple,
straightforward. --adv. 1 squarely (sat square on
his seat). 2
fairly,
honestly (play square). --v. 1 tr.
make square or rectangular,
give a rectangular
cross-section to (timber etc.). 2 tr.
multiply (a number) by itself (3 squared is 9). 3 tr. & intr. (usu. foll. by
to, with)
adjust; make or be
suitable or
consistent;
reconcile (the results do not square with
your conclusions). 4 tr. mark
out in squares. 5 tr. settle or pay (a bill etc.). 6 tr.
place (one's shoulders etc.) squarely
facing forwards. 7 tr. colloq. a pay or
bribe. b
secure the acquiescence etc. of (a person) in this
way. 8 tr. (also absol.) make the scores of (a match etc.) all square. 9 intr.
assume the
attitude of a
boxer. 10 tr. Naut. a lay (yards) at right angles with the keel
making them at the same
time horizontal. b
get (dead-eyes) horizontal. c get (ratlines) horizontal and parallel to one
another. øback to square one colloq.
back to the starting-point with no
progress made. get square with pay or compound with (a creditor). on the square adj. 1 colloq. honest, fair. 2 having
membership of the Freemasons. --adv. colloq. honestly, fairly (can be trusted to
act on the square). out of square not at right angles.
perfect square = square number. square accounts with see
ACCOUNT. square
away US
tidy up. square-bashing
Brit.
Mil. sl. drill on a barrack-square. square brackets brackets of the form []. square-built of comparatively
broad shape. square the
circle 1
construct a square equal in area to a
given circle (a
problem incapable of a
purely geometrical solution). 2 do
what is
impossible. square
dance a dance with usu. four couples facing
inwards from four sides. square deal a fair
bargain, fair
treatment. squared
paper paper
marked out in squares, esp. for plotting graphs. square-eyed joc.
affected by or given to
excessive viewing of
television. square
leg Cricket 1 the fielding
position at
some distance on the batsman's leg side and nearly
opposite the stumps. 2 a
fielder in this position. square meal a
substantial and satisfying meal. square measure measure expressed in square units. square number the square of an
integer e.g. 1, 4, 9, 16. square
off 1 US assume the attitude of a boxer. 2
Austral.
placate or
conciliate. 3 mark out in squares. square
peg in a round
hole see PEG. square piano an
early type of piano, small and
oblong in shape. square-rigged with the
principal sails at right angles to the length of the
ship and extended by horizontal yards
slung to the mast by the
middle (opp. fore-and-aft rigged). square root the number
that multiplied by itself gives a specified number (3 is the square root of 9). square
sail a four-cornered sail extended on a yard slung to the mast by the middle. square-shouldered with broad and not sloping shoulders (cf. round-shouldered). square-toed 1 (of shoes or boots) having square toes. 2 wearing
such shoes or
boots. 3
formal,
prim. square up settle an account etc. square up to 1
move towards (a person) in a fighting attitude. 2
face and
tackle (a
difficulty etc.) resolutely. square
wave Physics a wave with
periodic sudden alternations
between only two values of
quantity. øøsquarely adv. squareness n. squarer n. squarish adj. [ME f. OF esquare, esquarr÷, esquarrer, ult. f.
EX-(1) + L quadra square]