Plaza vs. Square: What's the Difference?
Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on October 3, 2023
Plaza is an open public space, often with commercial buildings, while Square is an open area in a city or town where multiple streets meet, typically used for gatherings.
Key Differences
Both Plaza and Square are open public spaces that have been integral in urban design. Plaza, originating from the Spanish word for 'place', often emphasizes a commercial or business-oriented space. This setting may contain shopping centers, restaurants, or entertainment venues. On the other hand, Square has deep roots in town planning across various cultures and tends to be a communal gathering spot.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Plaza and Square both serve as social hubs, but their primary functions may differ. While the primary allure of a Plaza may be its commercial establishments and business areas, a Square is more traditionally a place for community gatherings, events, and sometimes even political demonstrations.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
In architecture and urban design, the aesthetics of a Plaza might lean more towards modernity and luxury, reflecting its commercial intent. In contrast, a Square may have historical monuments, statues, or fountains, encapsulating the cultural or historical essence of a city or town.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Both Plaza and Square play pivotal roles in directing pedestrian movement in urban areas. While Plazas often become focal points for shopping and entertainment, Squares offer relaxation spots and connect various streets, serving as significant junctions in a city's layout.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 03, 2023
Comparison Chart
ADVERTISEMENT
Primary Function
Commercial and business-oriented.
Communal gathering and intersections.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Typical Features
Modern buildings, shopping centers.
Historical monuments, statues, fountains.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Usage in Urban Design
Focal points for shopping and entertainment.
Connects streets; significant city junctions.
Harlon Moss
Oct 03, 2023
Cultural Importance
More modern and commercial.
Often encapsulates historical essence.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Plaza and Square Definitions
Plaza
A shopping complex or commercial center.
The new plaza has some of the best restaurants in town.
Janet White
Oct 03, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Square
A rectangle with all four sides of equal length.
Draw a square with each side measuring 5 inches.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Plaza
An open area used for gathering or recreation.
Families gathered in the plaza for the summer concert.
Sara Rehman
Oct 03, 2023
Plaza
A designated pedestrian zone in urban areas.
The city transformed the street into a pedestrian plaza.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 03, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Square
A T-shaped or L-shaped instrument for drawing or testing right angles.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(Mathematics) The product obtained when a number or quantity is multiplied by itself
49 is the square of 7.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Plaza
An open area used for gathering in a city, often having small trees and sitting benches.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Abbr. Sq. An open, usually four-sided area at the intersection of two or more streets, often planted with grass and trees for use as a park.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
A rectangular space enclosed by streets and occupied by buildings; a block.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
The flower bud of a cotton plant, with three bracts surrounding the unopened flower in a pyramidal structure.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(Slang) A person who is regarded as dull, rigidly conventional, and out of touch with current trends.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Plaza
A public square with room for pedestrians;
They met at Elm Plaza
Grosvenor Place
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Plaza
Mercantile establishment consisting of a carefully landscaped complex of shops representing leading merchandisers; usually includes restaurants and a convenient parking area; a modern version of the traditional marketplace;
A good plaza should have a movie house
They spent their weekends at the local malls
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Plaza
A forecourt of a building or complex.
The hotel's plaza was adorned with beautiful fountains.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 03, 2023
Square
Having a specified length in each of two equal dimensions
A room that is 12 feet square.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(Nautical) Set at right angles to the mast and keel. Used of the yards of a square-rigged ship.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Approximately rectangular and equilateral in cross section
A square house.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Having all accounts settled; even
I paid what I owed you, so we're square.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
To test or adjust for conformity to a desired plane, straight line, or right angle.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
To bring into conformity or agreement
She could not square the request with her principles.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
To bring (oneself) into a better position or relation
He tried to square himself with his parents.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(Informal) To bribe or fix
A party in litigation that tried to square the judge.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(geometry) A polygon with four sides of equal length and four right angles; an equilateral rectangle; a regular quadrilateral.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
A cell in a grid.
You may not move a piece to a square already occupied by one of your own pieces.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(North America) A dessert cut into rectangular pieces, or a piece of such a dessert.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(printing) A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers.
Column inch
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
An L- or T-shaped tool used to place objects or draw lines at right angles.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
An open space or park, often in the center of a town, not necessarily square in shape, often containing trees, seating and other features pleasing to the eye.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(mathematics) The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; the second power of a number, value, term or expression.
64 is the square of 8.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
A socially conventional or conservative person; a person who has little or no interest in the latest fads or trends: still sometimes used in modern terminology.
Why do you always wear a tie? Don't be such a square!
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(British) The symbol # on a telephone; hash.
Enter your account number followed by a square.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(cricket) The central area of a cricket field, with one or more pitches of which only one is used at a time.
An ideal playing area is roughly circular in shape with a central area, the cricket square, measuring 27.44 metres by 27.44 metres and boundaries 45.75 metres from the sides of the square.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(real estate) A unit of measurement of area, equal to a 10 foot by 10 foot square, i.e. 100 square feet or roughly 9.3 square metres. Used in real estate for the size of a house or its rooms, though progressively being replaced by square metres in metric countries such as Australia.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(roofing) A unit used in measuring roof area equivalent to 100 square feet (9.29 m²) of roof area. The materials for roofing jobs are often billed by the square in the United States.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Senseid|en|square meal elliptically}} {{ellipsis of square meal
Even when times were tough, we got three squares a day.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(archaic) Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(astrology) The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
A well-defined core of a human body, a flat section from the fundament to the thoracic diaphragm.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(of box-shaped objects such as buildings or metal frames) Forming right angles in all planes as intended; not rack or leaning.
The foundation has to be level and the framing has to be square.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(nautical) Forming right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Used in the names of units of area formed by multiplying a unit of length by itself.
Square metre
Square mile
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Honest; straightforward; fair.
I'm just looking for a square deal on my car repair.
Square dealing
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Even; tied
To make or leave the accounts square
The sides were square at the end of the half.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Solid, decent, substantial.
It may be prison, but at least I'm getting three square meals a day.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Having a shape broad for the height, with angular rather than curving outlines.
A man of a square frame
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(transitive) To adjust so as to align with or place at a right angle to something else; in particular:
The casting was mounted on a milling machine so that its sides could be squared.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(nautical) To place at a right angle to the mast or keel.
To square the yards
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(rowing) To rotate the oars so that they are perpendicular to the water.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(ambitransitive) To resolve or reconcile; to suit or fit.
John can square this question up for us.
These results just don't square with what we expected.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(transitive) To adjust or adapt so as to bring into harmony with something.
I cannot square the results of the experiment with my hypothesis.
To square our actions by the opinions of others
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Of a value, term, or expression, to multiply by itself; to raise to the second power.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
To draw, with a pair of compasses and a straightedge only, a square with the same area as.
Square the circle
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(obsolete) To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces.
To square mason's work
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so
He bolted his food down his capacious throat in squares of three inches.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side; sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of two or more streets.
The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
An instrument having at least one right angle and two or more straight edges, used to lay out or test square work. It is of several forms, as the T square, the carpenter's square, the try-square., etc.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule.
They of Galatia [were] much more out of square.
I have not kept my square.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
A body of troops formed in a square, esp. one formed to resist a charge of cavalry; a squadron.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Fig.: The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level.
We live not on the square with such as these.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Having a shape broad for the height, with rectilineal and angular rather than curving outlines; as, a man of a square frame.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Exactly suitable or correspondent; true; just.
She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Leaving nothing; hearty; vigorous.
By Heaven, square eaters.More meat, I say.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
At right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; - said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces; as, to square masons' work.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
To adjust; to regulate; to mold; to shape; to fit; as, to square our actions by the opinions of others.
Square my trialTo my proportioned strength.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
To make even, so as to leave no remainder or difference; to balance; as, to square accounts.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
To hold a quartile position respecting.
The icy Goat and Crab that square the Scales.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
To accord or agree exactly; to be consistent with; to conform or agree; to suit; to fit.
No works shall find acceptance . . .That square not truly with the Scripture plan.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel.
Are you such foolsTo square for this?
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
(geometry) a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four-sided regular polygon;
You can compute the area of a square if you know the length of its sides
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
The product of two equal terms;
Nine is the second power of three
Gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Any artifact having a shape similar to a plane geometric figure with four equal sides and four right angles;
A checkerboard has 64 squares
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
A hand tool consisting of two straight arms at right angles; used to construct or test right angles;
The carpenter who built this room must have lost his square
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Having four equal sides and four right angles or forming a right angle;
A square peg in a round hole
A square corner
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Characterized by honesty and fairness;
A square deal
Wanted to do the square thing
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Without evasion or compromise;
A square contradiction
He is not being as straightforward as it appears
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
In a straight direct way;
Looked him squarely in the eye
Ran square into me
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
With honesty and fairness;
Dealt squarely with his customers
Always treated me square
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
In a square shape;
A squarely cut piece of paper
Folded the sheet of paper square
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
Firmly and solidly;
Hit the ball squarely
The bat met the ball squarely
Planted his great bulk square before his enemy
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 15, 2023
Square
An open area where multiple streets intersect.
The town square was beautifully lit up for the holidays.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Square
A place for public gatherings or events.
Protestors assembled at the square to voice their concerns.
Janet White
Oct 03, 2023
FAQs
Are Plazas common in Spanish-speaking countries?
Yes, the concept of plazas is integral in Spanish and Latin American urban designs.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Can a Plaza be inside a mall?
Yes, some indoor shopping malls have areas referred to as plazas.
Janet White
Oct 03, 2023
Is a Plaza always commercial?
Mostly, but not always. Some might be more recreational or ceremonial.
Harlon Moss
Oct 03, 2023
What is a Plaza?
A plaza is an open public space, often surrounded by commercial buildings.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
How does a Square differ from a Plaza?
A square is a public open space in a city where streets intersect, while a plaza has a more commercial focus.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Are town Squares common in small towns?
Yes, they often serve as the heart of small towns.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Do Squares have historical significance?
Often, yes. Many squares feature monuments, statues, or landmarks.
Sara Rehman
Oct 03, 2023
Are all Squares four-sided?
In geometry, yes. In urban design, not necessarily; it denotes an open space, regardless of shape.
Sara Rehman
Oct 03, 2023
Can a Square be used for protests?
Yes, squares are often gathering spots for various public events, including protests.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
How important are Squares in urban planning?
They're essential, serving as communal spaces and often influencing city traffic flow.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Can Squares be modern spaces?
While many are historical, there are also contemporary squares in newer cities.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 03, 2023
Can a Square be a garden?
Yes, some squares are green spaces or gardens, especially in European cities.
Sara Rehman
Oct 03, 2023
Do Plazas attract tourists?
Yes, especially in cities with renowned plazas surrounded by attractions.
Harlon Moss
Oct 03, 2023
Can a Plaza be a park?
Some plazas incorporate green spaces and might resemble parks.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Can a Plaza be pedestrian-only?
Yes, many plazas are designed as pedestrian zones.
Janet White
Oct 03, 2023
Do all cities have a Plaza?
Not necessarily, but many cities incorporate plazas into their design.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Are Plazas more prevalent in warmer climates?
They're common in many climates but might be especially prevalent in regions where outdoor gatherings are frequent.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
What's the purpose of a city Square?
To offer communal space for gatherings, events, and as a junction for multiple streets.
Harlon Moss
Oct 03, 2023
Do all Squares have statues or monuments?
No, but many squares, especially historical ones, feature such landmarks.
Harlon Moss
Oct 03, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera SaeedSumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.
