neliömäiseen

Neliömäinen is a Finnish adjective meaning square-shaped or having the form of a square. It is formed from the noun neliö (square) and the suffix -mäinen, which creates adjectives indicating resemblance or characteristic. Like other -inen adjectives, neliömäinen inflects according to case and number, for example: nominative singular neliömäinen, genitive singular neliömäisen, partitive singular neliömäistä, illative singular neliömäiseen, inessive singular neliömäisessä.

The term is primarily used in descriptive, technical, or design contexts where a precise geometric property is being conveyed. It describes objects, patterns, or figures whose shape is square. Examples include neliömäinen kuvio (square-shaped pattern) or neliömäisen laatikon muoto (the shape of a square box). In everyday language, speakers may also opt for alternative expressions such as neliön muotoinen, depending on style and preference.

Etymologically, neliömäinen combines neliö with the adjective-forming suffix -mäinen, a productive pattern in Finnish for creating shape- or resemblance-based descriptors. The word is a typical example of how Finnish forms descriptive adjectives from nouns to express geometric characteristics.

See also: neliö (square) and muoto (shape).

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