1. (Geom.) (a) The corner, or angle, of a figure. [Obs.] (b) A parallelogram having four equal sides and four right angles.
2. Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so; as: (a) A square piece or fragment. He bolted his food down his capacious throat in squares of three inches. Sir W. Scott.
(b) A pane of glass. (c) (Print.) A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; — used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers. (d) (Carp.) One hundred superficial feet.
3. An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side; sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of two or more streets. The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town. Addison.
4. (Mech. & Joinery)
Defn: An instrument having at least one right angle and two or more straight edges, used to lay out or test square work. It is of several forms, as the T square, the carpenter's square, the try-square., etc.
5. Hence, a pattern or rule. [Obs.]
6. (Arith. & Alg.)
Defn: The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8 × 8 = 64; the square of a + b is a2 + 2ab + b2.
7. Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity;
rule. [Obs.]
They of Galatia [were] much more out of square. Hooker.
I have not kept my square. Shak.