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2 N‑COUNT In a town or city, a square is a flat open place, often in the shape of a square. □  The house is located in one of Pimlico's prettiest garden squares. □  …St Mark's Square.

3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is square has a shape the same as a square or similar to a square. □  Round tables seat more people in the same space as a square table. □  His finger nails were square and cut neatly across.

4 ADJ [ADJ n] Square is used before units of length when referring to the area of something. For example, if something is three metres long and two metres wide, its area is six square metres. □  Canary Wharf was set to provide 10 million square feet of office space. □  The Philippines has just 6,000 square kilometres of forest left.

5 ADJ Square is used after units of length when you are giving the length of each side of something that is square in shape. □  …a linen cushion cover, 45 cm square. □  …two pieces of wood 4 inches square.

6 VERB To square a number means to multiply it by itself. For example, 3 squared is 3 x 3, or 9. 3 squared is usually written as 3². □ [V n] Take the time in seconds, square it, and multiply by 5.12. □ [V -ed] A squared plus B squared equals C squared.

7 N‑COUNT [usu with poss] The square of a number is the number produced when you multiply that number by itself. For example, the square of 3 is 9. □  …the square of the speed of light, an exceedingly large number.

8 VERB If you square two different ideas or actions with each other or if they square with each other, they fit or match each other. □ [V + with ] That explanation squares with the facts, doesn't it. □ [V n + with ] He set out to square his dreams with reality.

9 VERB If you square something with someone, you ask their permission or check with them that what you are doing is acceptable to them. □ [V n + with ] She should have squared things with Jay before she went into this business with Walker.

10 → see also squared , squarely

11 PHRASE If you say that someone squares the circle , you mean that they bring together two things which are normally thought to be so different that they cannot exist together. □  He has squared the circle of keeping the City happy and doing something to improve business cash flow. □  'Nirvana' squared the circle by making a record that was pop and rock at the same time.

12 PHRASE If you are back to square one , you have to start dealing with something from the beginning again because the way you were dealing with it has failed. □  If your complaint is not upheld, you may feel you are back to square one.

13fair and square → see fair

▸  square off

1 PHRASAL VERB If you square something off , you alter it so that it has the shape of a square. □ [V P n] Peel a thick-skinned orange and square off the ends with a sharp knife. [Also V P n]

2 PHRASAL VERB If one group or person squares off against or with another, they prepare to fight them. [mainly AM ] □ [V P against ] In Florida, farmers are squaring off against cities for rights to groundwater.

▸  square up PHRASAL VERB If you square up to a problem, person, or situation, you accept that you have to deal with them and take action to do so. □ [V P ] The world's most prestigious insurance company was last night squaring up to take on MPs who have accused it of being riddled with corruption.

squared /skweə ^r d/