What does squaring mean?
Squaring most commonly describes the process of making something square in shape, as when a carpenter squares the corners of a frame or a designer squares a sheet of material. In mathematics, squaring a number means multiplying it by itself; for example, squaring negative three produces nine. The word can also mean making two quantities correspond, especially when squaring accounts, balances, or scores with one another. These meanings all reflect the underlying idea of bringing separate elements into an exact, orderly correspondence. Although “squaring the circle” is impossible in classical Euclidean geometry, squaring itself is an ordinary mathematical operation and a familiar description of making a shape properly square.
The act of making something square or of multiplying a number by itself; it may also mean the act of making amounts or accounts equal.
"Careful squaring of the tiles gives the floor a uniform pattern."
As a gerund noun, squaring often names an activity rather than a completed operation.
To make something square, multiply a number by itself, or make two amounts, accounts, or scores equal.
"The auditors are squaring the recorded totals against the bank statements."
This entry represents the present participle form; the corresponding infinitive is “to square.”
The plural is rare and is chiefly encountered in technical, mathematical, or specialized writing.
"The chapter compares several different squarings of the circle."
Squaring the circle sounds like a simple geometry exercise, but constructing an exact square with the area of a circle is impossible using only classical Euclidean tools.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does squaring come from?
The word “squaring” is formed from “square” with the Middle English present-participle and gerund ending -ing. “Square” came through Old French esquire from Latin quadratus, a participle meaning “four-sided” or “squared.” The related words quadrate, quadratic, and quadrature preserve this same Latin family of forms.
Related word forms
How squaring is actually used
In its third sense, squaring has a somewhat formal, businesslike tone and often implies making figures or balances correspond. In geometry and algebra, it is standard technical vocabulary.
Easily confused with squaring
Squaring means making something square, raising a number to the second power, or making amounts equal, whereas sparing means using or giving less than might normally be used.