square
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a shape with four straight sides of the same length and four 90-degree angles.
n.a regular quadrilateral with four equal sides and four right angles.
Simple“The children learned how to draw a square and a circle in art class.”
In context“The architect used a series of interlocking squares to create a modern geometric pattern on the building's facade.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.an open area in a town or city, usually with buildings around it.
n.an open public space in a built-up area, typically surrounded by buildings and serving as a community focal point.
Simple“We met our friends in the main square to watch the street performers.”
In context“The town square serves as the primary venue for the weekly market and various seasonal festivals throughout the year.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.the result of multiplying a number by itself.
n.the product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; the second power.
Simple“The square of three is nine because three times three equals nine.”
In context“To calculate the area of the floor, you must find the square of the length of one side.”
Synonymssecond powerAntonymssquare root - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who is very old-fashioned or boring and does not like new trends.
n.a person regarded as socially conventional, conservative, or out of touch with contemporary trends.
Simple“My brother is such a square; he refuses to listen to any music made after 1980.”
In context“In the counterculture of the 1960s, anyone who held a corporate job and wore a suit was dismissed as a square.”
SynonymstraditionalistconformistAntonymsrebeltrendsetter - 05 A2 Elementary
adj.having the shape of a square or forming a right angle.
adj.having four equal sides and right angles, or positioned at a ninety-degree angle to a base.
Simple“The table has a square top that fits perfectly in the corner of the room.”
In context“Ensure the frame is perfectly square before you tighten the screws, or the door will not close properly.”
Synonyms - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.honest, fair, and direct.
adj.characterised by honesty and fairness; straightforward in dealings.
Simple“I promise to give you a square deal if you buy the car from me.”
In context“The negotiator was known for his square approach, refusing to use deceptive tactics to gain an advantage.”
- 07 B1 Intermediate
adj.having no money owed or having the same score in a game.
adj.being even or balanced, particularly regarding debts or competitive scores.
Simple“If I pay for lunch today, we will be square.”
In context“After three hours of intense play, the match was square, forcing the players into a sudden-death tiebreaker.”
- 08 B1 Intermediate
v.to multiply a number by itself.
v.to multiply a quantity by itself to find its second power.
Simple“If you square five, you get twenty-five.”
In context“The formula requires you to square the velocity before multiplying it by the mass of the object.”
- 09 C1 Advanced
v.to find a way to make two different ideas or facts agree with each other.
v.to reconcile or bring two seemingly different statements or ideas into agreement.
Simple“It is difficult to square his expensive lifestyle with his low salary.”
In context“The CEO struggled to square the company's public commitment to the environment with its recent increase in carbon emissions.”
Antonyms - 10 B2 Upper Intermediate
adv.directly or straight.
adv.in a direct or straightforward manner; directly in the face or centre of something.
Simple“The ball hit him square in the chest.”
In context“The sunlight shone square into her eyes, making it impossible for her to read the sign across the street.”
Antonyms
Usage square kilometers · square miles · square kilometres
From Middle English square, sqware, squyre; from Old French esquarre, esquerre, (modern French équerre), from Vulgar Latin *exquadra, from Latin ex- + quadro, from quadrus (compare English quad and quadra). Doublet of squad and squadra. Displaced Old English fēowerecge (fēower nominative + ecg accusative, as in "four-edged").
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.