half-inch

American  

[haf-inch, hahf-] / ˈhæfˈɪntʃ, ˈhɑf- /

noun

1. a half of an inch, equal to 1/24 of a foot (1.27 centimeters).

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half-inch British  

noun

1. a measure of length approximately equivalent to 13 millimetres

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verb

1. slang to steal

Etymology

Origin of half-inch

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Saturday, when about a half-inch of rain fell over roughly 15 minutes on ground that already was saturated, flooding low-lying areas and prompting at least 12 calls for service, Turner said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2025

A few places had seen a bit more: Carlsbad and Chula Vista received almost a quarter-inch; San Diego International Airport and Coronado saw almost a half-inch; Riverside had seen three-tenths of an inch.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025

And they will finish the flooring, which must be seamless between modules beyond the project’s half-inch tolerance.

From Slate • Sep. 9, 2025

We were working with open reel, half-inch black and white video tape and in the first year no editing facility at all.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2025

His nose was flat and a half-inch scar beneath his lower lip stood out white beneath the dark stubble.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok