Square can describe several related ideas:

1. A shape with four equal sides and four right angles. Think of a perfectly cut piece of paper or a checkerboard space. Squares appear everywhere in building and design because they're stable and fit together neatly. The corners of a square form perfect 90-degree angles, which is why builders use them as guides to make sure walls meet properly.
2. An open public area in a town or city, usually surrounded by buildings. Town squares have served as gathering places for centuries, where people meet, shop, or attend community events. Times Square in New York City is a famous example, though it's actually more rectangular than square-shaped.
3. To multiply a number by itself. When you square 5, you get 25 (5 × 5). You might hear someone say “six squared equals thirty-six.” This shows up constantly in math, from calculating areas to solving equations.
4. Something honest, fair, and straightforward. When people make a deal and then square things up, they settle what they owe each other fairly. A square deal means everyone gets treated honestly. If you're square with someone, you've made things right between you, with nothing owed on either side.