A4
See also: a4 and A-4
Translingual
![](Images/wiktionary/A_size_illustration2.svg.png.webp)
The relative size of A4 paper.
Etymology
Specified in ISO 216 of 1975, based on DIN 476, a German standardisation of 1921.
Symbol
A4
- (international standards) ISO 216 standard paper size of 210 mm × 297 mm (8.27 in × 11.69 in), with a surface area of 624 cm2 (96.7 sq in).
- 2001, Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl, page 66:
- "There are preparations to be made for our guest's arrival," said Artemis, handing a typewritten sheet of A4 to Juliet.
- 2006 June 5, Ben McGrath, “Eton on the F.D.R.”, in The New Yorker:
- The flat, befitting such a compromise, was stocked with two sizes of stationery: U.S. Letter and the thinner, taller A4 that is standard in Europe.
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See also
ISO 216/269 paper sizes
A series: | 4A0 | 2A0 | A0 | A1 | A2 | A3 | A4 | A5 | A6 | A7 | A8 | A9 | A10 |
B series: | B0 | B1 | B2 | B3 | B4 | B5 | B6 | B7 | B8 | B9 | B10 | ||
C series: | C0 | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 | C6 | C7 | C8 | C9 | C10 |
English
Proper noun
A4
- One in a series of alphanumerics used in many national road systems.
- The A4, which runs from London to Bristol, used to be known as the Great West Road.
- (UK, rail transport) A4 class, a class of steam locomotive used on the London and North Eastern Railway.
- 1990, H.C.B. Rogers, Express Steam Locomotive Development in Great Britain and France, Crecy Publishing, →ISBN, page 89:
- In a letter to the author he says that when he went to King's Cross in 1936 the A4s were, and had been for some time, at a low ebb in performance.
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Norwegian Bokmål
![](Images/wiktionary/A_size_illustration_-_2.png.webp)
Size illustration of paper sizes, including A4.
Etymology
See the Wikipedia article ISO 216, the international standard on paper sizes.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɑːfiːrə/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -iːrə
- Hyphenation: A‧4
Noun
A4
- (Should we delete(+) this sense?)(uncountable, often the first part of a compound noun) a standard paper size, defined by ISO 216.
- dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
- (colloquial, used in a compound noun, indicating that something is standard or unexciting)
- 1991 November 18, Aftenposten, page 6:
- jeg [Erik Solheim] prøver bevisst å unngå å bli en A-4 politiker som lyder som en stortingsproposisjon
- I [Erik Solheim] consciously try to avoid becoming an A-4 politician who sounds like a parliamentary bill
- 2009, Kjetil Stensvik Østli, Politi og røver:
- i årevis har kjeltringene snakket med forakt om «a4-livet.» A4 er et fengsel og alt det der
- for years, the thugs have spoken with contempt about "a4 life." A4 is a prison and all that
- 1999, Cathrine Sandnes, Matriark, page 81:
- plutselig ville jeg sitte i saksa uten engang å kunne skryte på meg et A4-liv. Å si at man lever A3, er ikke like imponerende
- suddenly I wanted to sit in the scissors without even being able to brag about an A4 life. To say that you live A3 is not as impressive
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Adjective
A4 (singular and plural A4, comparative mer A4, superlative mest A4)
- (colloquial) being the typical, what one would expect, without deviating from the norm
- Synonyms: konvensjonell, standard, normal, gjennomsnittlig
- 2008, Harald Rosenløw Eeg, Løp hare løp:
- handikap er et skjellsord. Alt som ikke er helt a4 … er «hemma» eller handikappa
- disability is an insult. Anything that is not completely a4… is "disabled" or handicapped
- 2005, Mari Maurstad, Sex- og familieliv:
- eg har en gammel barndomsvenn. Vi var veldig fortrolige og litt gærne sammen. Nå er han provoserende a4
- I have an old childhood friend. We were very familiar and a little happy together. Now he is provocative a4
Derived terms
- A4-ark
- A4-format
- A4-liv
- A4-menneske
- A4-papir
See also
- (A paper sizes): 2A0 A0 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A10
References
- “A4” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
- “A4_1” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).
- “A4_2” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).
- “A4” in Store norske leksikon
Norwegian Nynorsk
Adjective
A4 (singular and plural A4, comparative meir A4, superlative mest A4)
- (Should we delete(+) this sense?) A standard paper paper size that's in common use
- Being the typical, what one would expect, without deviating from the norm, average.
Derived terms
- A4-ark
- A4-menneske
- A4-liv
Spanish
Etymology
From a cuatro (4) patas (“on four claws”).
Adverb
A4
- (Internet slang, of sexual intercourse) doggy style
- Synonyms: a cuatro patas, postura de perrito
- (Can we date this quote?) “Los 3 reyes del sexo”, in Foro Amor:
- Perrito o A4: La postura de fornicación sin sentimientos por excelencia. Ella mirando a Cuenca. Sí, señor, pedazo de postura. Para mí es la más cómoda para el hombre, porque permite la total libertad de movimiento. Tiene varias variantes, depende cómo la cojas. La perrito es la mejor, sin duda.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)