square
gb/skwˈɛɹ/ us/skwˈɛɹ/
A2
Inglese
~ 3000
Accezioni
0 accezioni
Sostantivo
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.
Schema d'uso:
a [adjective] square
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes confuse 'square' with 'rectangle'; a rectangle has opposite sides equal, but a square has all four sides equal.
Sinonimi
quadrilateral (A broader term meaning any four-sided shape, not necessarily with equal sides and angles.)
Contrari
circle (A round shape with no straight sides or angles, opposite in form to a square.)
Collocazioni
perfect square
|small square
|town square
|chessboard square
|square shape
Temi
mathematics
|geometry
|design
|science
|education
Esempi
- The floor tiles are shaped like squares.
- Draw a square on the paper.
- The chessboard has sixty-four black and white squares.
Esempi per chi studia
- The box is a square.
- He drew a square on the page.
- This table has a square top.
Sostantivo
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.
Schema d'uso:
meet in the [place] square
Sinonimi
plaza (Common in American English and Spanish-influenced contexts; similar meaning.)
Contrari
alley (A narrow passage between buildings, opposite in openness to a square.)
Collocazioni
city square
|central square
|public square
|main square
Temi
urban life
|travel
|daily_life
Esempi
- They held the festival in the main square.
- The hotel is near the central square.
- Protesters gathered in the public square.
Esempi per chi studia
- We met in the main square.
- The bus stops at the city square.
- There is a fountain in the square.
Verbo
B2
action
3
Make something into a square shape
To change something so that it has four equal sides and four right angles.
Schema d'uso:
to square [something]
Sinonimi
align (Make straight or aligned, though not necessarily into a square shape.)
Contrari
round off (To smooth or make edges rounded instead of square.)
Collocazioni
square the edges
|square the corners
Temi
geometry
|construction
|science
|work
Esempi
- He squared the edges of the wood before cutting it.
- The carpenter squared the frame for accuracy.
- Square the corners before joining the pieces.
Esempi per chi studia
- 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.
Schema d'uso:
a [adjective] person is a square
Sinonimi
conservative (Describes someone holding traditional views; not necessarily boring.)
Contrari
hip (Trendy and fashionable, opposite of 'square' in this sense.)
Collocazioni
such a square
Temi
slang
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Esempi
- 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.
Esempi per chi studia
- He is a square.
- She says I am a square.
- My brother is not a square.
Verbo
B2
action
5
Make level or aligned with something else
To move something so it is straight and even with something else.
Schema d'uso:
square [something] with [something else]
Sinonimi
align (Focuses more generally on bringing into correct position; squaring implies 90-degree alignment.)
Contrari
tilt (To make slanted or not level, opposite of squaring.)
Collocazioni
square with the wall
|square up the picture
Temi
construction
|measurement
|work
Esempi
- 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.
Esempi per chi studia
- Square the table with the wall.
- I squared my chair with the desk.
- He squared the box with the floor.
Grammatica
Forma base
square
IPA
GB/skwˈɛɹ/
US/skwˈɛɹ/
Sillabe e accento
square (1 sillaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (square)
Forme flesse
Adjective
- Base: square
- Comparative: squarer
- Superlative: squarest
Noun
- Base: square
- Plural: squares
Verb
- Base: square
- 3rd Person Singular: squares
- Present Participle: squaring
- Past: squared
Famiglia di parole
Forms
squares
noun
squaring
verb
squared
verb
squarer
adjective
squarest
adjective
Related words
squarely
adverb
squarish
adjective
Advanced or less common
squareness
noun
Espressioni
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.
Esempi
- 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.
Esempi
- 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.
Esempi
- 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.
Esempi
- 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.
Esempi
- She won the game fair and square.
- They beat us fair and square.