[skwɛː], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles
(e.g: a grid of ruled squares)

- an open, typically four-sided, area surrounded by buildings in a village, town, or city
(e.g: a market square)

- the product of a number multiplied by itself
(e.g: a circle's area is proportional to the square of its radius)

- an L-shaped or T-shaped instrument used for obtaining or testing right angles
(e.g: a carpenter's square)

- a person considered to be old-fashioned or boringly conventional in attitude or behaviour
(e.g: Reg is such a square)

- a square meal
(e.g: three squares a day)


Phrases:
- back to square one
- on the square
- out of square
- square the circle

Origin:
Middle English: shortening of Old French esquare (noun), esquarre (past participle, used as an adjective), esquarrer (verb), based on Latin quadra ‘square’

[skwɛː], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- having the shape or approximate shape of a square
(e.g: a square table)

- denoting a unit of measurement equal to the area of a square whose side is of the unit specified
(e.g: 30,000 square feet of new gallery space)

- at right angles; perpendicular
(e.g: these lines must be square to the top and bottom marked edges)

- level or parallel
(e.g: place two pieces of wood one on top of the other, ensuring that they are exactly square)

- (of two people) owing nothing to each other
(e.g: an acknowledgement that we are square)

- old-fashioned or boringly conventional
(e.g: Elvis was anything but square)

- (of rhythm) simple and straightforward


Phrases:
- back to square one
- on the square
- out of square
- square the circle

Origin:
Middle English: shortening of Old French esquare (noun), esquarre (past participle, used as an adjective), esquarrer (verb), based on Latin quadra ‘square’

[skwɛː], (Adverb)

Definitions:
- directly; straight
(e.g: the ball hit me square in the forehead)

- in a direction transversely across the field or pitch
(e.g: the ball bounced almost square to the left)


Phrases:
- back to square one
- on the square
- out of square
- square the circle

Origin:
Middle English: shortening of Old French esquare (noun), esquarre (past participle, used as an adjective), esquarrer (verb), based on Latin quadra ‘square’

[skwɛː], (Verb)

Definitions:
- make square or rectangular; give a square or rectangular cross section to
(e.g: you can square off the other edge)

- multiply (a number) by itself
(e.g: 5 squared equals 25)

- balance (an account)
(e.g: institutions are anxious to square their books before the election)

- bring (one's shoulders) into a position in which they appear square and broad, typically to prepare oneself for a difficult task or event
(e.g: chin up, shoulders squared, she stepped into the room)

- secure the help or acquiescence of (someone), especially by offering an inducement
(e.g: faced with such declarations, politicians were resolved to squash or square the press)

- pass (a ball) across the field, especially towards the centre

- set (a yard or other part of a ship) at right angles to the keel or other point of reference

- (of a planet) have a square aspect with (another planet or position)
(e.g: Saturn squares the Sun on the 17th)


Phrases:
- back to square one
- on the square
- out of square
- square the circle

Origin:
Middle English: shortening of Old French esquare (noun), esquarre (past participle, used as an adjective), esquarrer (verb), based on Latin quadra ‘square’