neliömäisen

Neliömäinen is a Finnish adjective meaning square-shaped or in the form of a square. It is formed from the noun neliö (square) and the suffix -mäinen, which is used to create adjectives that describe resemblance or form. The word is used in everyday language as well as in design, architecture, and technical descriptions.

Usage and nuance: Neliömäinen describes objects whose outline or footprint is square, such as a neliömäinen laatta (a square tile) or a neliömäinen pöytä (a square table). It can also describe patterns, layouts, or plans with square geometry. In more precise or formal geometrical contexts, speakers often prefer neliönmuotoinen or neliön kaltainen to convey a strictly square shape.

Relation to mathematics: The root neliö is central to terms for squares in mathematics, such as neliökilometri (square kilometer) or neliömetri (square meter). In contrast to these measurement terms, neliömäinen focuses on the shape rather than the size.

Morphology: Like many adjectives in Finnish, neliömäinen inflects for number and case. Examples include nominative singular neliömäinen, genitive neliömäisen, partitive neliömäistä; plural nominative neliömäiset, genitive neliömäisten, partitive neliömäisiä.

See also: neliö, neliökilometri, neliönmuotoinen.