square

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   firmly and solidly

   hit the ball squarely

2. 2
   adv

   in a square shape

   a squarely cut piece of paper

3. 3
   adv

   in a straight direct way

   I looked you square in the eye.

4. 4
   adj

   having four equal sides and four right angles or forming a right angle

   a square peg in a round hole

5. 5
   noun

   any artifact having a shape similar to a plane geometric figure with four equal sides and four right angles

   a checkerboard has 64 squares

6. 6
   verb

   position so as to be square

   You squared your shoulders.

7. 7
   verb

   pay someone and settle a debt

   I squared with him

8. 8
   verb

   be compatible with

   one idea squares with another

Etymology

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").