Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

octavo

noun
oc·​ta·​vo | \ äk-ˈtā-(ˌ)vō How to pronounce octavo (audio) , -ˈtä- How to pronounce octavo (audio) \
plural octavos

Definition of octavo

: the size of a piece of paper cut eight from a sheet also : a book, a page, or paper of this size

First Known Use of octavo

1582, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for octavo

Latin, ablative of octavus eighth

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about octavo

Statistics for octavo

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for octavo

The first known use of octavo was in 1582

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on octavo

Spanish Central: Translation of octavo

Comments on octavo

What made you want to look up octavo? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

putsch

Listen to the pronounciation of putsch

a secret plot to overthrow a government

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Latin Quiz

  • roman forum
  • Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games