2. Forming a right angle; as, a square corner.
3. Having a shape broad for the height, with rectilineal and
angular rather than curving outlines; as, a man of a
square frame.
4. Exactly suitable or correspondent; true; just.
She's a most truimphant lady, if report be square to
her. --Shak.
5. Rendering equal justice; exact; fair; honest, as square
dealing.
6. Even; leaving no balance; as, to make or leave the
accounts square.
7. Leaving nothing; hearty; vigorous.
By Heaven, square eaters. More meat, I say. --Beau.
& Fl.
8. (Naut.) 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.
Note: Square is often used in self-explaining compounds or
combination, as in square-built, square-cornered,
square-cut, square-nosed, etc.
{Square foot}, an area equal to that of a square the sides of
which are twelwe inches; 144 square inches.
{Square knot}, a knot in which the terminal and standing
parts are parallel to each other; a reef knot. See Illust.
under {Knot}.
{Square measure}, the measure of a superficies or surface
which depends on the length and breadth taken conjointly.
The units of square measure are squares whose sides are
the linear measures; as, square inches, square feet,
square meters, etc.
{Square number}. See {square}, n., 6.
{Square root of a number} or {quantity} (Math.), that number
or quantity which, multiplied by itself produces the given
number or quantity.
{Square sail} (Naut.), a four-sided sail extended upon a yard
suspended by the middle; sometimes, the foresail of a
schooner set upon a yard; also, a cutter's or sloop's sail
boomed out. See Illust. of {Sail}.
{Square stern} (Naut.), a stern having a transom and joining
the counter timbers at an angle, as distinguished from a
round stern, which has no transom.
{Three-square}, {Five-square}, etc., having three, five,
etc., equal sides; as, a three-square file.
{To get square with}, to get even with; to pay off. [Colloq.]
2. That which can be increased, diminished, or measured;
especially (Math.), anything to which mathematical
processes are applicable.
Note: Quantity is discrete when it is applied to separate
objects, as in number; continuous, when the parts are
connected, either in succession, as in time, motion,
etc., or in extension, as by the dimensions of space,
viz., length, breadth, and thickness.
3. A determinate or estimated amount; a sum or bulk; a
certain portion or part; sometimes, a considerable amount;
a large portion, bulk, or sum; as, a medicine taken in
quantities, that is, in large quantities.
The quantity of extensive and curious information
which he had picked up during many months of
desultory, but not unprofitable, study. --Macaulay.
{Quantity of estate} (Law), its time of continuance, or
degree of interest, as in fee, for life, or for years.
--Wharton (Law Dict. )
{Quantity of matter}, in a body, its mass, as determined by
its weight, or by its momentum under a given velocity.
{Quantity of motion} (Mech.), in a body, the relative amount
of its motion, as measured by its momentum, varying as the
product of mass and velocity.
{Known quantities} (Math.), quantities whose values are
given.
{Unknown quantities} (Math.), quantities whose values are
sought.
Wilt thou add to all the griefs I suffer Imaginary ills
and fancied tortures? --Addison.
{Imaginary calculus} See under {Calculus}.
{Imaginary expression} or {quantity} (Alg.), an algebraic
expression which involves the impossible operation of
taking the square root of a negative quantity; as,
[root]-9, a + b [root]-1.
{Imaginary points}, {lines}, {surfaces}, etc. (Geom.),
points, lines, surfaces, etc., imagined to exist, although
by reason of certain changes of a figure they have in fact
ceased to have a real existence.
Syn: Ideal; fanciful; chimerical; visionary; fancied; unreal;
illusive.