Meaning & use
square
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Meanings
nouncountable
A flat shape with four straight sides of equal length and four right angles.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a square' or 'two squares'.
Patterns
- draw a square
- a square of something
- cut something into squares
The children drew a square on the paper.
Cut the cake into small squares.
A square has four equal sides and four right angles.
nouncountable
An open area in a town or city, often with buildings around it, where people can walk or gather.
Grammar: Countable, often used in names: 'Times Square', 'the town square'.
Patterns
- in the square
- town square
- market square
We met in the square in front of the cathedral.
The market is held in the town square every Saturday.
Protesters gathered in the main square.
nouncountablemathematics
The result of multiplying a number by itself.
Grammar: Countable, often followed by 'of': 'the square of 5 is 25'.
Patterns
- the square of a number
- the square root
The square of 4 is 16.
She calculated the square of the length to find the area.
adjectivebefore a noun
Having four equal straight sides and four right angles.
Grammar: Used before a noun: 'a square table'. Not usually after a verb.
Patterns
- a square shape
- a square room
The room has a large square window.
He wore a square badge on his jacket.
adjectivenot comparableinformal
Fair and honest in dealing with people.
Grammar: Not used with 'more' or 'most'; often in the phrase 'a square deal'.
Patterns
- a square deal
- be square with someone
He always tries to be square with his customers.
They promised us a square deal.
verbtransitivemathematics
To multiply a number by itself.
Grammar: Takes an object: 'square a number'.
Patterns
- square a number
- square something
To find the area, square the length of the side.
If you square 3, you get 9.
Word forms
| plural | squares |
|---|---|
| third person singular | squares |
| past tense | squared |
| past participle | squared |
| -ing form | squaring |
| comparative | squarer |
| superlative | squarest |
Common combinations
- town square
- The town square was decorated with lights for the festival.
- square root
- The square root of 9 is 3.
- square deal
- The workers felt they had finally got a square deal.
- square meal
- After a long day, he was ready for a square meal.
- back to square one
- The project failed, so we're back to square one.
Synonyms and how they differ
- quadrilateral
- A more general mathematical term for any four-sided shape; a square is a specific type of quadrilateral.
- plaza
- A public square, especially in a Spanish-speaking country or a modern shopping area; it can be more commercial.
- fair
- When describing a person, 'fair' is more general and can refer to many situations; 'square' in this sense is informal and often used in fixed phrases like 'a square deal'.
Opposites
Word family
- squarely adverb
- In a direct and firm way: 'He looked at me squarely.'
- squareness noun
- The quality of being square in shape.
- squared adjective
- Having a square shape or marked with squares: 'squared paper'.
Commonly confused: square or quadrant?
square vs quadrant
A quarter of a circle or a region divided by axes; not the same as a square shape.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
A 'town square' is a common open public area in a town. The other shapes do not normally form public gathering places with this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “square”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.