Square vs. Quadrilateral — What's the Difference?

In geometry, a square is a regular quadrilateral, which means that it has four equal sides and four equal angles (90-degree angles, or 100-gradian angles or right angles). It can also be defined as a rectangle in which two adjacent sides have equal length.

A quadrilateral is a polygon in Euclidean plane geometry with four edges (sides) and four vertices (corners). Other names for quadrilateral include quadrangle (in analogy to triangle) and tetragon (in analogy to, e.g., pentagon or hexagon).

A plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles

A polygon having four sides.

An open, typically four-sided, area surrounded by buildings in a village, town, or city

Having four sides.

The product of a number multiplied by itself

A polygon with four sides.

An L-shaped or T-shaped instrument used for obtaining or testing right angles

An area defended by four fortresses supporting each other.

A person considered to be old-fashioned or boringly conventional in attitude or behaviour

Having four sides.

A square meal

Having four sides, and consequently four angles; quadrangular.

Having the shape or approximate shape of a square

A plane figure having four sides, and consequently four angles; a quadrangular figure; any figure formed by four lines.

Denoting a unit of measurement equal to the area of a square whose side is of the unit specified

An area defended by four fortresses supporting each other; as, the Venetian quadrilateral, comprising Mantua, Peschiera, Verona, and Legnano.

At right angles; perpendicular

A four-sided polygon

Level or parallel

Having four sides

(of two people) owing nothing to each other

Old-fashioned or boringly conventional

(of rhythm) simple and straightforward.

Directly; straight

In a direction transversely across the field or pitch

Make square or rectangular; give a square or rectangular cross section to

Multiply (a number) by itself

Make compatible; reconcile

Balance (an account)

Bring (one's shoulders) into a position in which they appear square and broad, typically to prepare oneself for a difficult task or event

Secure the help or acquiescence of (someone), especially by offering an inducement

Pass (a ball) across the field, especially towards the centre.

Set (a yard or other part of a ship) at right angles to the keel or other point of reference.

(of a planet) have a square aspect with (another planet or position)

A polygon having four equal sides and four equal angles.

Something having an equal-sided rectangular form

A T-shaped or L-shaped instrument for drawing or testing right angles.

(Mathematics) The product obtained when a number or quantity is multiplied by itself

(Games) Any of the quadrilateral spaces on a board, as in chess.

Abbr. Sq. An open, usually four-sided area at the intersection of two or more streets, often planted with grass and trees for use as a park.

A rectangular space enclosed by streets and occupied by buildings; a block.

The flower bud of a cotton plant, with three bracts surrounding the unopened flower in a pyramidal structure.

(Slang) A person who is regarded as dull, rigidly conventional, and out of touch with current trends.

Having four equal sides and four right angles.

Forming a right angle.

In alignment or flush

Abbr. sq. Expressed in units measuring area

Having a specified length in each of two equal dimensions

Having a base that is a square

(Nautical) Set at right angles to the mast and keel. Used of the yards of a square-rigged ship.

Approximately rectangular and equilateral in cross section

Characterized by blocklike solidity or sturdiness.

Honest; direct

Just; equitable

Having all accounts settled; even

(Sports) Even; tied.

(Slang) Rigidly conventional; dull.

To cut to a square or rectangular shape. Often used with off.

To test or adjust for conformity to a desired plane, straight line, or right angle.

To mark into squares. Often used with off.

To bring into conformity or agreement

To bring (oneself) into a better position or relation

To set straight or at approximate right angles

To bring into balance; settle

(Sports) To even the score of

To raise (a number or quantity) to the second power.

To find a square equal in area to (the area of a given figure).

(Informal) To bribe or fix

(Mathematics) To be at right angles.

To agree or conform

(Mathematics) At right angles.

In a square shape.

In a solid manner; firmly.

Directly; straight

In an honest, straightforward manner.

(geometry) A polygon with four sides of equal length and four right angles; an equilateral rectangle; a regular quadrilateral.

Something characterized by a square, or nearly square, form.

A cell in a grid.

A square piece, part, or surface.

The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered.

(North America) A dessert cut into rectangular pieces, or a piece of such a dessert.

(printing) A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers.

An L- or T-shaped tool used to place objects or draw lines at right angles.

A true measure, standard, or pattern.

An open space or park, often in the center of a town, not necessarily square in shape, often containing trees, seating and other features pleasing to the eye.

A street surrounding a public square or plaza.

(mathematics) The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; the second power of a number, value, term or expression.

(military formation) A body of troops drawn up in a square formation.

A socially conventional or conservative person; a person who has little or no interest in the latest fads or trends: still sometimes used in modern terminology.

(British) The symbol # on a telephone; hash.

(cricket) The central area of a cricket field, with one or more pitches of which only one is used at a time.

(real estate) A unit of measurement of area, equal to a 10 foot by 10 foot square, i.e. 100 square feet or roughly 9.3 square metres. Used in real estate for the size of a house or its rooms, though progressively being replaced by square metres in metric countries such as Australia.

(roofing) A unit used in measuring roof area equivalent to 100 square feet (9.29 m²) of roof area. The materials for roofing jobs are often billed by the square in the United States.

(academia) A mortarboard.

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(archaic) Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule.

The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level.

(astrology) The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate.

(dated) The act of squaring, or quarrelling; a quarrel.

(slang) Cigarette.

(brewing) A vat used for fermentation.

A well-defined core of a human body, a flat section from the fundament to the thoracic diaphragm.

Shaped like a square the polygon.

Forming a right angle (90°).

(of box-shaped objects such as buildings or metal frames) Forming right angles in all planes as intended; not rack or leaning.

(nautical) Forming right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced.

Used in the names of units of area formed by multiplying a unit of length by itself.

Honest; straightforward; fair.

Satisfied; comfortable with; not experiencing any conflict.

Even; tied

Socially conventional; boring.

(cricket) In line with the batsman's popping crease.

Solid, decent, substantial.

Having a shape broad for the height, with angular rather than curving outlines.

Directly.

(transitive) To adjust so as to align with or place at a right angle to something else; in particular:

(nautical) To place at a right angle to the mast or keel.

(rowing) To rotate the oars so that they are perpendicular to the water.

(ambitransitive) To resolve or reconcile; to suit or fit.

(transitive) To adjust or adapt so as to bring into harmony with something.

Of a value, term, or expression, to multiply by itself; to raise to the second power.

To draw, with a pair of compasses and a straightedge only, a square with the same area as.

To tile (completely fill) with squares.

(soccer) To make a short low pass sideways across the pitch

(archaic) To take opposing sides; to quarrel.

To accord or agree exactly; to be consistent with; to suit; to fit.

(obsolete) To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel.

To take a boxing attitude; often with up or off.

To form with four sides and four right angles.

To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces.

To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard.

(astrology) To hold a quartile position respecting.

The corner, or angle, of a figure.

Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so

A pane of glass.

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.

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.

Hence, a pattern or rule.

The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8

Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule.

A body of troops formed in a square, esp. one formed to resist a charge of cavalry; a squadron.

Fig.: The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level.

The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate.

The act of squaring, or quarreling; a quarrel.

The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered.

Having four equal sides and four right angles; as, a square figure.

Forming a right angle; as, a square corner.

Having a shape broad for the height, with rectilineal and angular rather than curving outlines; as, a man of a square frame.

Exactly suitable or correspondent; true; just.

Rendering equal justice; exact; fair; honest; as, square dealing.

Even; leaving no balance; as, to make or leave the accounts square.

Leaving nothing; hearty; vigorous.

At right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; - said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced.

To form with four equal sides and four right angles.

To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces; as, to square masons' work.

To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard.

To adjust; to regulate; to mold; to shape; to fit; as, to square our actions by the opinions of others.

To make even, so as to leave no remainder or difference; to balance; as, to square accounts.

To multiply by itself; as, to square a number or a quantity.

To hold a quartile position respecting.

To place at right angles with the keel; as, to square the yards.

To accord or agree exactly; to be consistent with; to conform or agree; to suit; to fit.

To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel.

To take a boxing attitude; - often with up, sometimes with off.

(geometry) a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four-sided regular polygon;

The product of two equal terms;

An open area at the meeting of two or more streets

Something approximating the shape of a square

Someone who doesn't understand what is going on

A formal and conservative person with old-fashioned views

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

A hand tool consisting of two straight arms at right angles; used to construct or test right angles;

Raise to the second power

Make square;

Cause to match, as of ideas or acts

Position so as to be square;

Be compatible with;

Pay someone and settle a debt;

Turn the paddle; in canoeing

Turn the oar, while rowing

Having four equal sides and four right angles or forming a right angle;

Leaving no balance;

Characterized by honesty and fairness;

Without evasion or compromise;

Rigidly conventional or old-fashioned

In a straight direct way;

With honesty and fairness;

In a square shape;

Firmly and solidly;