quadrate

▸ noun /ˈkwädrāt, , ˈkwɑdreɪt

, ˈkwädrət, ˈkwɑdrət

1 (also quadrate bone) Zoology (in the skull of a bird or reptile) a squarish bone with which the jaw articulates, thought to be homologous with the incus of the middle ear in mammals.

2 Anatomy another term for quadratus.

▸ adjective /ˈkwädrət, ˈkwɑdrət

/ roughly square or rectangular:

a broad shell with a quadrate outline.

▸ verb /ˈkwädrāt, ˈkwɑdreɪt

/ archaic

1 [with object] make square:

the materials are there quadrated or formed into rectangular blocks.

2 conform or cause to conform:

he had to make a creed which would quadrate with his immorality.

– ORIGIN late Middle English (as an adjective): from Latin quadrat- ‘made square’, from the verb quadrare, from quattuor ‘four’.