folium

American  

[foh-lee-uhm] / ˈfoʊ li əm /

noun

plural

folia

1. a thin leaflike stratum or layer; a lamella.

2. Geometry. a loop; part of a curve terminated at both ends by the same node. Equation: x 3 + y 3 = 3 axy.

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folium British  

/ ˈfəʊlɪəm /

noun

1. a plane geometrical curve consisting of a loop whose two ends, intersecting at a node, are asymptotic to the same line. Standard equation: x ³ + y ³=3a xy where x = y +a is the equation of the line

2. any thin leaflike layer, esp of some metamorphic rocks

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folium Scientific  

/ fō′lē-əm /

plural

folia

1. A thin, leaflike layer or stratum occurring especially in metamorphic rock.

2. A plane cubic curve having a single loop, a node, and two ends asymptotic to the same line.

3. Also called folium of Descartes

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Etymology

Origin of folium

1840–50; < New Latin, Latin: literally, a leaf

Example Sentences

Graph the tangent line along with the folium.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

Many plane curves in mathematics are named after the people who first investigated them, like the folium of Descartes or the spiral of Archimedes.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

Pythagoras held Malvoe folium sanctissimum; and we read of Epimenides in Plato, "at his Mallows and Asphodels."

From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by Fernie, William Thomas

It is more remarkable for the singularity of its foliage than the beauty of its blossoms; the former exhibit a very good example of the folium pedatum of Linnæus, whence its name.

From The Botanical Magazine, Vol. 3 Or, Flower-Garden Displayed by Curtis, William

Folia ramorum alterna, diametro unciali, trinervia; petiolo folium subaequanti, basi in stipulam subscariosam adnatam dilatato.

From Expedition into Central Australia by Sturt, Charles