square
gb/skwˈɛɹ/ us/skwˈɛɹ/
A2
Anglais
~ 3000
Sens
0 sens
Nom
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.
Schéma d’usage :
a [adjective] square
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'square' with 'rectangle'; a rectangle has opposite sides equal, but a square has all four sides equal.
Synonymes
quadrilateral (A broader term meaning any four-sided shape, not necessarily with equal sides and angles.)
Antonymes
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
Thèmes
mathematics
|geometry
|design
|science
|education
Exemples
- The floor tiles are shaped like squares.
- Draw a square on the paper.
- The chessboard has sixty-four black and white squares.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The box is a square.
- He drew a square on the page.
- This table has a square top.
Nom
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.
Schéma d’usage :
meet in the [place] square
Synonymes
plaza (Common in American English and Spanish-influenced contexts; similar meaning.)
Antonymes
alley (A narrow passage between buildings, opposite in openness to a square.)
Collocations
city square
|central square
|public square
|main square
Thèmes
urban life
|travel
|daily_life
Exemples
- They held the festival in the main square.
- The hotel is near the central square.
- Protesters gathered in the public square.
Exemples pédagogiques
- We met in the main square.
- The bus stops at the city square.
- There is a fountain in the square.
Verbe
B2
action
3
Make something into a square shape
To change something so that it has four equal sides and four right angles.
Schéma d’usage :
to square [something]
Synonymes
align (Make straight or aligned, though not necessarily into a square shape.)
Antonymes
round off (To smooth or make edges rounded instead of square.)
Collocations
square the edges
|square the corners
Thèmes
geometry
|construction
|science
|work
Exemples
- He squared the edges of the wood before cutting it.
- The carpenter squared the frame for accuracy.
- Square the corners before joining the pieces.
Exemples pédagogiques
- 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.
Schéma d’usage :
a [adjective] person is a square
Synonymes
conservative (Describes someone holding traditional views; not necessarily boring.)
Antonymes
hip (Trendy and fashionable, opposite of 'square' in this sense.)
Collocations
such a square
Thèmes
slang
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He is a square.
- She says I am a square.
- My brother is not a square.
Verbe
B2
action
5
Make level or aligned with something else
To move something so it is straight and even with something else.
Schéma d’usage :
square [something] with [something else]
Synonymes
align (Focuses more generally on bringing into correct position; squaring implies 90-degree alignment.)
Antonymes
tilt (To make slanted or not level, opposite of squaring.)
Collocations
square with the wall
|square up the picture
Thèmes
construction
|measurement
|work
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Square the table with the wall.
- I squared my chair with the desk.
- He squared the box with the floor.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
square
API
GB/skwˈɛɹ/
US/skwˈɛɹ/
Syllabes et accentuation
square (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (square)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: square
- Comparative: squarer
- Superlative: squarest
Noun
- Base: square
- Plural: squares
Verb
- Base: square
- 3rd Person Singular: squares
- Present Participle: squaring
- Past: squared
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- She won the game fair and square.
- They beat us fair and square.