centimeter

American  

[sen-tuh-mee-ter] / ˈsɛn təˌmi tər /

especially British, centimetre

noun

1. one 100th of a meter, equivalent to 0.3937 inch. cm, cm.

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centimeter Scientific  

/ sĕn′tə-mē′tər /

1. A unit of length in the metric system equal to 0.01 meter.

2. See Table at measurement

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centimeter Cultural  

1. A unit of length in the metric system; one-hundredth of a meter, or about two-fifths of an inch.

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Etymology

Origin of centimeter

From the French word centimètre, dating back to 1795–1805. See centi-, meter ¹

Example Sentences

In July 2024, magma started accumulating in a shallow reservoir beneath Santorini, causing the island to lift slightly by a few centimeters.

From Science Daily

NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory carries a relatively small 30 centimeter telescope, yet from its position in orbit it can observe ultraviolet wavelengths that are mostly absorbed by Earth's atmosphere.

From Science Daily

At present, the system can image tissue up to about 4 centimeters deep.

From Science Daily

"It truly is the first time in history that one can modulate activity deep in the brain, centimeters from the scalp, examining subcortical structures with high spatial resolution," Freeman says.

From Science Daily

Whereas cross-country skis are long and narrow, the skimo version are almost like kids’ skis — up to 150 centimeters for women and 160 for men.

From Los Angeles Times