A4

See also: A-4, a4, and a-4

Translingual

The relative size of A4 paper.

Etymology

Specified in ISO 216 of 1975, based on DIN 476, a German standardisation of 1921.

Symbol

A4

1. (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^[1]:

     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.

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

1. 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.

2. (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.

Norwegian Bokmål

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

1. (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

2. (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

Adjective

A4 (singular and plural A4, comparative mer A4, superlative mest A4)

1. (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)

1. (Should we delete⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) A standard paper paper size that's in common use
2. 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

1. (Internet slang, of sexual intercourse) doggy style

   Synonyms: a cuatro patas, postura de perrito

   • 2013 August 15, “Los 3 reyes del sexo”, in Foro Amor‎^[2]:

     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.

     Doggy or A4: The sex position without feelings par excellence. She's being fucked from behind. Yes sir, what a position. To me it's the most comfortable for the man, because it allows total freedom of movement. It has a variety of variations, depending on how you're fucking her. Doggy is the best, without a doubt.