Folio: meaning, definitions and examples

Used primarily in the context of books and manuscripts, a folio refers to a sheet of paper folded once to make two leaves or four pages. It is often used in describing old or academic books.

• The library acquired a rare folio of Shakespeare's plays.
• The manuscript was a large folio, with beautiful illustrations.

Often used in everyday language to refer to any side of a sheet of paper in a book, magazine, or document. It's the most common and general term in this context.

• He bookmarked the page to save his place.
• The book has over 300 pages.

Generally refers to a single piece of paper, especially when it is loose and not bound. This term can also be used in other contexts like bed sheets or metal sheets, so the context is important.

• She handed him a sheet of paper to write on.
• The project required several sheets of cardboard.

Can refer to a single sheet of paper within a book or a loose piece of paper. It's often used when discussing pages of a manuscript or a printed book in a more poetic or formal manner.

• She turned the leaf to continue reading.
• The ancient leaf was fragile and yellowed with age.

This word can also refer to a single sheet of paper or parchment, often folded in half to create two leaves (four pages). It is commonly used in bibliographic and archival contexts.

• The archivist carefully turned the delicate folio to examine the text.
• Each folio of the medieval manuscript was meticulously illustrated.

This term is used to describe books, prints, or photographs that are larger than typical sizes. It is usually employed in art, design, or printing contexts where the size of the material is significantly larger.

• The photographer released his new work in a large format edition.
• The coffee table book was printed in a large format to showcase the detailed maps.

This term is used to describe books that are of a medium size, created from sheets of paper folded twice to form four leaves (eight pages). Quarto is commonly used in bibliographic and scholarly contexts.

• The professor referenced an old quarto edition of the scientific journal.
• Collectors admire the quarto format for its balance between size and readability.

Use this term when referring to books that are of a smaller size; especially ones that are about one-eighth the size of a standard sheet of paper. It's often used in bibliographic and historical contexts.

• She inherited a charming octavo edition of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'.
• The book dealer specialized in antique octavo volumes.