English Reference
Noun

foursquare

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US /ˈfɔɹsˈkwɛɹ/ UK /fˈɔːskweə/ foursquare Architecture

n.a building or room that is shaped like a square or a rectangle. It is often used to describe the basic, simple layout of a house.

n.a building or room with a square or rectangular plan. Often used in architectural contexts to describe the fundamental footprint of a structure.


SIMPLE

The old farmhouse is a simple foursquare.

CONTEXTUAL

The architect designed the new library as a foursquare to maximize the floor space for the reading room.

COMPLEX

While modern designs often favor asymmetry, the foursquare remains a popular choice for those seeking a traditional, grounded aesthetic in residential architecture.


From Middle English foure square; equivalent to four + square.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English foure square
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Occasional
Updated