# square

/ˈskwɛɹ/ (US) · /skwˈeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/square
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the shape

noun · CEFR A1

a shape with four straight sides of the same length and four 90-degree angles.

For teachers: a regular quadrilateral with four equal sides and four right angles.

- The children learned how to draw a square and a circle in art class.
- The architect used a series of interlocking squares to create a modern geometric pattern on the building's facade.

### 2. town area

noun · CEFR A2

an open area in a town or city, usually with buildings around it.

For teachers: an open public space in a built-up area, typically surrounded by buildings and serving as a community focal point.

- We met our friends in the main square to watch the street performers.
- The town square serves as the primary venue for the weekly market and various seasonal festivals throughout the year.

### 3. math power

noun · CEFR B1

the result of multiplying a number by itself.

For teachers: the product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; the second power.

- The square of three is nine because three times three equals nine.
- To calculate the area of the floor, you must find the square of the length of one side.

### 4. boring person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person who is very old-fashioned or boring and does not like new trends.

For teachers: a person regarded as socially conventional, conservative, or out of touch with contemporary trends.

- My brother is such a square; he refuses to listen to any music made after 1980.
- In the counterculture of the 1960s, anyone who held a corporate job and wore a suit was dismissed as a square.

### 5. shape/angle

adjective · CEFR A2

having the shape of a square or forming a right angle.

For teachers: having four equal sides and right angles, or positioned at a ninety-degree angle to a base.

- The table has a square top that fits perfectly in the corner of the room.
- Ensure the frame is perfectly square before you tighten the screws, or the door will not close properly.

### 6. honest

adjective · CEFR B2

honest, fair, and direct.

For teachers: characterised by honesty and fairness; straightforward in dealings.

- I promise to give you a square deal if you buy the car from me.
- The negotiator was known for his square approach, refusing to use deceptive tactics to gain an advantage.

### 7. even/tied

adjective · CEFR B1 · Informal

having no money owed or having the same score in a game.

For teachers: being even or balanced, particularly regarding debts or competitive scores.

- If I pay for lunch today, we will be square.
- After three hours of intense play, the match was square, forcing the players into a sudden-death tiebreaker.

### 8. to multiply

verb · CEFR B1

to multiply a number by itself.

For teachers: to multiply a quantity by itself to find its second power.

- If you square five, you get twenty-five.
- The formula requires you to square the velocity before multiplying it by the mass of the object.

### 9. to reconcile

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to find a way to make two different ideas or facts agree with each other.

For teachers: to reconcile or bring two seemingly different statements or ideas into agreement.

- It is difficult to square his expensive lifestyle with his low salary.
- The CEO struggled to square the company's public commitment to the environment with its recent increase in carbon emissions.

### 10. directly

adverb · CEFR B2

directly or straight.

For teachers: in a direct or straightforward manner; directly in the face or centre of something.

- The ball hit him square in the chest.
- The sunlight shone square into her eyes, making it impossible for her to read the sign across the street.

## Examples

- A chessboard is made of black and white squares.
- He cut the paper into a perfect square to make an origami bird.
- The town was built around a central square, a vast paved area where markets were held and public announcements were made.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.