having four straight equal sides and four angles of 90°
a square room
Topics Colours and Shapesa2
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
be
look
adverb
very
absolutely
exactly
…
See full entry
forming an angle of 90° exactly or approximately
The book had rounded, not square, corners.
square shoulders
He had a firm, square jaw.
Topics Colours and Shapesb2,Maths and measurementb2
measurement
(abbreviation sq)
used after a number to give a measurement of area
an area of 36 square metres/feet/miles/kilometres/inches
Topics Maths and measurementb1
used after a unit of measurement to say that something measures the same amount on each of four sides
a carpet four metres square
Topics Maths and measurementb1
broad/solid
used to describe something that is broad or that looks solid in shape
a man of square build
see alsofour-square
level
[not before noun]square (with something)level with something or parallel to something
tables arranged square with the wall
with money
(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
square (with somebody)if two teams are square, they have the same number of points
The teams were all square at half-time.
Topics Games and toysc2
fair/honest
fair or honest, especially in business matters
a square deal
Are you being square with me?
Topics Personal qualitiesc2
in agreement
square with somethingin agreement with something
That isn't quite square with what you said yesterday.
Topics Opinion and argumentc2
boring
(old-fashioned, informal, disapproving)(of a person)considered to be boring, for example because they are old-fashioned or work too hard at schoolTopics Feelingsc2
Word OriginMiddle English: shortening of Old French esquare (noun), esquarre (past participle, used as an adjective), esquarrer (verb), based on Latin quadra ‘square’.
Idioms
a square meal
a good meal that satisfies your hunger
He looks as though he hasn't had a square meal for weeks.
a square peg (in a round hole)
(informal)a person who does not feel happy or comfortable in a particular situation, or who is not suitable for it
square
noun
/skweə(r)/
/skwer/
Idioms
jump to other results
shape
enlarge image
[countable]a shape with four straight sides of equal length and four angles of 90°; a piece of something that has this shape
First break the chocolate into squares.
The floor was tiled in squares of grey and white marble.
see alsoset square,T-square
Extra Examples
A square of light shone from the skylight.
Cut the sandwiches into neat squares.
Topics Colours and Shapesa2
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
perfect
neat
verb + square
cut something into
divide something into
preposition
square of
See full entry
in town
enlarge image
[countable]an open area in a town, usually with four sides, surrounded by buildings
The hotel is just off the main square.
the town/central/public/market square
Extra Examples
The crowd filled the square.
the east side of the square
The next day, a large crowd gathered in the market square.
Topics Buildingsa2
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
central
main
public
…
verb + square
fill
throng
preposition
in a/the square
phrases
the centre/center of the square
the middle of the square
the side of the square
…
See full entry
Square
[singular]
(abbreviation Sq.)
(used in addresses)
They live at 95 Russell Square.
mathematics
[countable]the number obtained when you multiply a number by itself
The square of 7 is 49.
Topics Maths and measurementc2
boring person
[countable](old-fashioned, 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
Word OriginMiddle English: shortening of Old French esquare (noun), esquarre (past participle, used as an adjective), esquarrer (verb), based on Latin quadra ‘square’.
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.
square
verb
/skweə(r)/
/skwer/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they square
/skweə(r)/
/skwer/
he / she / it squares
/skweəz/
/skwerz/
past simple squared
/skweəd/
/skwerd/
past participle squared
/skweəd/
/skwerd/
-ing form squaring
/ˈskweərɪŋ/
/ˈskwerɪŋ/
IdiomsPhrasal Verbs
jump to other results
shape
square something (off)to make something have straight edges and corners
The boat is rounded at the front but squared off at the back.
mathematics
[usually passive]square somethingto multiply a number by itself
Three squared is written 32.
Four squared equals 16.
Topics Maths and measurementc2
shoulders
square yourself/your shouldersto make your back and shoulders straight to show you are ready or determined to do something
Bruno squared himself to face the waiting journalists.
in sport
square something(especially British English)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 1–1.
pay money
square somebody(informal)to pay money to somebody in order to get their help
They must have squared the mayor before they got their plan underway.
Word OriginMiddle English: shortening of Old French esquare (noun), esquarre (past participle, used as an adjective), esquarrer (verb), based on Latin quadra ‘square’.
Idioms
square the circle
to do something that is considered to be impossible
Marketing companies are trying to square the circle of profitability and growth with strong ethical values and sustainability.
square
adverb
/skweə(r)/
/skwer/
Idioms
jump to other results
(only used after the verb)directly; not at an anglesynonymsquarely
I looked her square in the face.
He hit me square on the jaw.
Word OriginMiddle English: shortening of Old French esquare (noun), esquarre (past participle, used as an adjective), esquarrer (verb), based on Latin quadra ‘square’.
Idioms
fair and square | fairly and squarely
honestly and according to the rules
We won the election fair and square.
(British English)exactly in the place you were aiming for
I hit the target fair and square.
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