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inch¹ Definition

inch (inc̸h)

noun

  1. a unit of length in the FPS system, equal to foot (2.54 cm): symbol, ″: abbrev. in
  2. a fall (of rain, snow, etc.) equal to the amount that would cover a surface to the depth of one inch
  3. a unit of pressure as measured by a barometer or manometer, equal to the pressure balanced by the weight on a one-inch column of liquid, usually mercury, in the instrument
  4. a very small amount, degree, or distance; trifle; bit

Etymology: ME inche < OE ynce < L uncia, twelfth part, inch, ounce

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to move by inches or degrees; move very slowly

inch¹ Idioms

every inch

in all respects; thoroughly

inch by inch

gradually; slowly; by degrees

within an inch of

very close to; almost to

within an inch of one's life

almost to the point of death: often used hyperbolically

inch² Definition

inch (inc̸h)

noun

in Scotland and Ireland, an isolated piece of land, as a small island or hill

Etymology: ME < Gael innis, island

inch Synonyms

inch

n.

  1. Twelfth of a foot

    fingerbreadth, 2.54 centimeters, measurement, 1/36 yard, length; see also measure 1.

  2. Small degree

    jot, tittle, iota; see bit 3.

by inches

slowly, by degrees, inch by inch, step by step; see gradually.

every inch

in all respects, thoroughly, entirely; see completely, in all respects at respect.

within an inch of

very close to, near to, nearly; see almost.

inch Synonyms

inch

v.

creep, barely move, worm along; see crawl 2.

inch Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • budge: Within minutes everyone is drenched yet nobody will budge an inch.

Preposition: over

  • crossbar: Jessica Smith's header from Eartha Pond's flag kick flew inches over the crossbar.

Adjective modifier

  • cubic: Less radical plans turned out to be an increase in capacity to 74 cubic inches in the IoE form of the Js.
  • 2.5cm/1: Filling the bottles Fill with the liquid to within 2.5cm/1 inch of the top.
  • square: The cylinders on the back are charged with 10 cubic feet of oxygen at a pressure of 18.000 lbs per square inch.

Modifies a noun

  • diameter: These are carried by tubing, usually PVC coated 1/4 or 3/8 inch diameter copper tubing.
  • vinyl: Two sides of seven inch vinyl could capture everything an artist was trying to say in less than six minutes.
  • waist: I'm desperate to be a 32 inch waist again.. then I can find the woman of my dreams!

Noun used with modifier

  • column: The media has dedicated more than its fair share of column inches to the burgeoning ringtone market over the past 12 months.
  • twelve: I felt I was walking twelve inches off the ground.
  • fourteen: I saw some pale blue parrot fish and red squirrel fish with their V-shaped tail fins, each about fourteen inches long.

Preposition: in

  • diameter: In the center of the table is a hole of about 2 inches in diameter through which the toads can fall.
  • thickness: The walls are about 3 feet 6 inches in thickness.

Preposition: of

  • legroom: United also unveiled plans to enhance United Business class throughout its international fleet to offer customers an additional seven inches of legroom.
  • snow: That night there was in inch of snow on the roofs of Warsaw.
inch Quotes

A cubic inch of some stars weighs a hundred tonsöBlue tit, who could measure the power of your tiny spark of energy?

—MacCaig, Norman Alexander

Not an inch of our territory or a stone of our fortresses.

—Favre,Jules Claude Gabriel