neliönmuotoisen

Neliönmuotoinen is a Finnish adjective meaning square-shaped, used to describe objects that have the form of a square. The word is formed from neliö (square) and muotoinen (shaped), and is typically written as a closed compound. It can describe two-dimensional shapes as well as three-dimensional objects whose plan or cross-section is square.

In usage, neliönmuotoinen precedes the noun and agrees with it in number and case. For example: nominative singular neliönmuotoinen laatikko (a square-shaped box), genitive singular neliönmuotoisen laatikon, partitive singular neliönmuotoista laatikkoa. In the plural: nominative neliönmuotoiset laatikot, genitive neliönmuotoisten laatikoiden, partitive neliönmuotoisia laatikoita. These inflections follow standard Finnish adjective declension patterns.

Neliönmuotoinen is distinct from nelikulmainen, which simply means four-angled or quadrilateral and does not specify that all sides are equal. Thus, while a neliönmuotoinen object is square-shaped, a nelikulmainen object may be any four-sided figure.

Etymology and usage notes: the term combines neliö and muotoinen and is the preferred form in modern Finnish orthography. In some contexts, especially informal writing, it might occur as neliön muotoinen, but the single-word form is standard in most contemporary texts.

See also: neliö, nelikulmainen. Examples in design, architecture and manufacturing frequently employ neliönmuotoinen to describe components, plans and products with a square geometry.