quadrate Hear it!

quadrate definition

quad·rate (kwädrit, -drāt′; for v., -drāt′)

adjective

  1. square or nearly square; rectangular
  2. Zool. designating a bone or cartilage of the skull in birds, bony fishes, amphibians, and reptiles, to which the lower jaw is joined

Etymology: ME < L quadratus, pp. of quadrare, to make square < quadrus, a square < quattuor, four

noun

  1. a square or rectangle
  2. a square or rectangular space, thing, etc.
  3. Zool. the quadrate bone

Etymology: ME < L quadratum < quadratus

intransitive verb quadrated -·rat′ed, quadrating -·rat′·ing

to square; agree (with)

transitive verb

to make square; make (something) conform

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