square
gb/skwˈɛɹ/ us/skwˈɛɹ/
A2
English
~ 3000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Four-sided shape with equal sides
A flat shape with four sides that are the same length and four corners that are square angles.
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] square
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'square' with 'rectangle'; a rectangle has opposite sides equal, but a square has all four sides equal.
Synonyms
quadrilateral (A broader term meaning any four-sided shape, not necessarily with equal sides and angles.)
Antonyms
circle (A round shape with no straight sides or angles, opposite in form to a square.)
Collocations
perfect square
|small square
|town square
|chessboard square
|square shape
Themes
mathematics
|geometry
|design
|science
|education
Examples
- The floor tiles are shaped like squares.
- Draw a square on the paper.
- The chessboard has sixty-four black and white squares.
Learner examples
- The box is a square.
- He drew a square on the page.
- This table has a square top.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Open public area in a town or city
A large open place in a town or city, often with roads around it and buildings on the sides.
Usage pattern:
meet in the [place] square
Synonyms
plaza (Common in American English and Spanish-influenced contexts; similar meaning.)
Antonyms
alley (A narrow passage between buildings, opposite in openness to a square.)
Collocations
city square
|central square
|public square
|main square
Themes
urban life
|travel
|daily_life
Examples
- They held the festival in the main square.
- The hotel is near the central square.
- Protesters gathered in the public square.
Learner examples
- We met in the main square.
- The bus stops at the city square.
- There is a fountain in the square.
Verb
B2
action
3
Make something into a square shape
To change something so that it has four equal sides and four right angles.
Usage pattern:
to square [something]
Synonyms
align (Make straight or aligned, though not necessarily into a square shape.)
Antonyms
round off (To smooth or make edges rounded instead of square.)
Collocations
square the edges
|square the corners
Themes
geometry
|construction
|science
|work
Examples
- He squared the edges of the wood before cutting it.
- The carpenter squared the frame for accuracy.
- Square the corners before joining the pieces.
Learner examples
- He squared the paper.
- She squared the frame.
- I will square the box.
adjective
informal
B2
property
4
Old-fashioned or conventional person or style
Not modern or fun; too traditional.
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] person is a square
Synonyms
conservative (Describes someone holding traditional views; not necessarily boring.)
Antonyms
hip (Trendy and fashionable, opposite of 'square' in this sense.)
Collocations
such a square
Themes
slang
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Don't be such a square—come dancing with us!
- He used to think his parents were squares.
- In the 1960s, being called a square was an insult.
Learner examples
- He is a square.
- She says I am a square.
- My brother is not a square.
Verb
B2
action
5
Make level or aligned with something else
To move something so it is straight and even with something else.
Usage pattern:
square [something] with [something else]
Synonyms
align (Focuses more generally on bringing into correct position; squaring implies 90-degree alignment.)
Antonyms
tilt (To make slanted or not level, opposite of squaring.)
Collocations
square with the wall
|square up the picture
Themes
construction
|measurement
|work
Examples
- Square the picture with the edge of the table.
- He squared the post with the ground before securing it.
- The shelves must be squared before being fixed.
Learner examples
- Square the table with the wall.
- I squared my chair with the desk.
- He squared the box with the floor.
Grammar
Dictionary form
square
IPA
GB/skwˈɛɹ/
US/skwˈɛɹ/
Syllables & stress
square (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (square)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: square
- Comparative: squarer
- Superlative: squarest
Noun
- Base: square
- Plural: squares
Verb
- Base: square
- 3rd Person Singular: squares
- Present Participle: squaring
- Past: squared
Word family
Forms
squares
noun
squaring
verb
squared
verb
squarer
adjective
squarest
adjective
Related words
squarely
adverb
squarish
adjective
Advanced or less common
squareness
noun
Expressions
back to square one
1/bˈæk tə skwˈɛɹ wˈʌn/
idiom
Return to starting point after failure
To have to start again from the beginning because your plan failed.
Examples
- After months of work, the deal fell through and we were back to square one.
- The project was rejected, so it's back to square one for us.
square off
1/skwˈɛɹ ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
Prepare to fight or compete directly against someone
To get ready to fight or compete by facing your opponent directly.
Examples
- The two boxers squared off before the match began.
- Protesters squared off with police outside the building.
square up to [something]
1/skwˈɛɹ ˈʌp tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
Confront something directly and bravely
To face a problem or challenge directly without avoiding it.
Examples
- It's time to square up to your responsibilities.
- She finally squared up to her fear of speaking in public.
fair and square
1/fˈɛɹ ˈænd skwˈɛɹ/
idiom
Done honestly without cheating or lying
Done in an honest way, following all rules.
Examples
- He won the game fair and square.
- They beat us fair and square—no excuses.
fair and square
2/fˈɛɹ ˈænd skwˈɛɹ/
idiom
Achieved honestly without cheating
Winning or succeeding in an honest way without cheating.
Examples
- She won the game fair and square.
- They beat us fair and square.