Definition:Square

Algebra
Let $x$ be a number.

Then the square of $x$ is $x \times x$ and can be written $x^2$.

Abstract Algebra
Let $\left({S, \circ}\right)$ be an algebraic structure.

Let $x \in S$.

Then the square of $x$ is $x \circ x$ and can be written $x^2$.

Squaring
The action of multiplying a number by itself is called squaring, and $x^2$ therefore is usually read $x$ squared.