1. a coined
phrase meaning in great amounts or by large increments. A
square is the
product obtained when a number is multiplied by itself; for
example, in the
statement "10
times 10 equals 100," 100 is the
square. The
phrase by the
square is used figuratively to show that something is progressing by large increases or jumps from one
quantity to another. 2. a
phrase used figuratively to show that something is exact, precise, extremely accurate, etc. The
phrase is possibly an allusion to the
straight lines and
right angles of a
square.