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square the circle

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌskwɛr ðə ˈsɝkəl/ · UK /ˌskweə ðə ˈsɜːkəl/

square the circle means: To solve a problem that seems impossible, especially by making conflicting needs fit together.

verb

SOLVE THE IMPOSSIBLEC2

To solve a problem that seems impossible, especially by making conflicting needs fit together.

  • We cannot square the circle.
  • The mayor tried to square the circle by cutting taxes and improving services.
  • How can we square the circle with such a small budget?

Similar words: do the impossible

Common phrases: square the circle, somehow square the circle

GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTIONC2

To try to draw an equal-area square for a circle using only a compass and an unmarked ruler.

  • You cannot square the circle with these tools.
  • For centuries, mathematicians tried to square the circle.
  • He claimed to have squared the circle using a compass and straightedge.

Common phrases: square the circle, square the circle exactly

Questions about square the circle

What does square the circle mean?

To solve a problem that seems impossible, especially by making conflicting needs fit together.

What is square the circle in other languages?

Türkçe: imkânsızı başarmak · Español: cuadrar el círculo · Français: résoudre la quadrature du cercle · Deutsch: die Quadratur des Kreises schaffen · Italiano: quadrare il cerchio · 日本語: 不可能を可能にする

How do you pronounce square the circle?

In American English /ˌskwɛr ðə ˈsɝkəl/; in British English /ˌskweə ðə ˈsɜːkəl/.

How do you use square the circle in a sentence?

We cannot square the circle. The mayor tried to square the circle by cutting taxes and improving services.

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square the circle in other languages

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