inch

[ inch ]

/ ɪntʃ /

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See synonyms for: inch / inched / inching on Thesaurus.com

noun

a unit of length, 1/12 (0.0833) foot, equivalent to 2.54 centimeters. Abbreviation: in.

a very small amount of anything; narrow margin: to win by an inch;to avert disaster by an inch.

verb (used with or without object)

to move by inches or small degrees: We inched our way along the road.

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Idioms about inch

by inches,

narrowly; by a narrow margin: escaped by inches.
Also inch by inch. by small degrees or stages; gradually: The miners worked their way through the narrow shaft inch by inch.

every inch, in every respect; completely: That horse is every inch a thoroughbred.

within an inch of, nearly; close to: He came within an inch of getting killed in the crash.

Origin of inch

First recorded before 1000; Middle English inch(e), unch(e), enche, Old English ynce, from Latin uncia “twelfth part, inch, ounce”; see origin at ounce¹

Other definitions for inch (2 of 2)

inch²

[ inch ]

/ ɪntʃ /

noun Scot.

a small island near the seacoast.

Origin of inch

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Scots Gaelic innse, genitive of innis “island,” Old Irish inis, cognate with Welsh ynys, Breton enez

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use inch in a sentence

Place the buns onto parchment paper on a baking tray, leaving about a fourth inch between each one.
Ease into Winter with Backcountry-Approved Comfort Food|Christina Bernstein|November 12, 2020|Outside Online
The company does fill cracks wider than a ¼ inch with liquid crack filler, but for narrower cracks, it just coats the surface with sealer, which seals out water but doesn’t make them disappear.
Why is it so expensive to patch an asphalt driveway?|Jeanne Huber|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
In a recent example, a team of scientists led by Samsung’s Won-Jae Joo and Stanford’s Mark Brongersma published a paper in Science describing a new meta-OLED display that can pack in 10,000 pixels per inch with room to scale.
New Display Packs 10,000 PPI and Could Paint Stunning VR Worlds|Jason Dorrier|November 1, 2020|Singularity Hub
From here, slide your right hand forward around 12 inches, then your left hand.
Jessie Diggins's Killer 8-Minute Core Workout|Hayden Carpenter|October 30, 2020|Outside Online

Oftentimes when these experiences happen in our lives, we are analyzing every single inch of a problem and we don’t have a long-term perspective, because we lose that in the emotional state of chaos.
7 life lessons on leadership during COVID and beyond|Sponsored Content: Integrate|October 26, 2020|Search Engine Land
But it is also incredibly moving and instructive to watch the inching towards social justice.
How Gay Marriage Was Won: Prop 8’s Destruction Captured In HBO Movie|Tim Teeman|June 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Another clue that the royal relationship might be inching forwards.
Cressy's Brother's Fears For Her Safety|Tom Sykes|March 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Surprisingly, the official tells us, Utah is inching toward accepting the money, as is Tennessee.
States Edge Closer to Medicaid Expansion: Who’ll Go First?|Michael Tomasky|January 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Only with this kind of mutual respect, mutual recognition, and mutual flexibility, will we start inching toward peace.
Ending the Blame Game Through Talks|Gil Troy|August 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Knowing this, Bing has been gently, though strategically, inching its way into the inner circle.
After Four Lonely Years, It’s Time to Give Bing a Chance|Anna Brand|July 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In spite of all he could do he saw the madman inching the knife nearer and nearer his throat.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science February 1930|Various
And this craft bore past there often, inching its downward way with swifters of logs, driving fast up-lake without a tow.
Big Timber|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Inching himself along, he came to the small door which had been cut into the hold to connect with the main hatch.
Blackbeard: Buccaneer|Ralph D. Paine
Then it began inching forward with intent to attack the obstacle in its path.
Up the Forked River|Edward Sylvester Ellis
At 1:18 am, the deAngelis flared to a 98.4 then started inching down again.
The Circuit Riders|R. C. FitzPatrick

British Dictionary definitions for inch (1 of 2)

inch¹

/ (ɪntʃ) /

noun

a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot or 0.0254 metre

meteorol

an amount of precipitation that would cover a surface with water one inch deepfive inches of rain fell in January
a unit of pressure equal to a mercury column one inch high in a barometer

a very small distance, degree, or amount

every inch in every way; completelyhe was every inch an aristocrat

inch by inch gradually; little by little

within an inch of very close to

verb

to move or be moved very slowly or in very small stepsthe car inched forward

(tr foll by out) to defeat (someone) by a very small margin

Word Origin for inch

Old English ynce, from Latin uncia twelfth part; see ounce 1

British Dictionary definitions for inch (2 of 2)

inch²

/ (ɪntʃ) /

noun

Scot and Irish a small island

Word Origin for inch

C15: from Gaelic innis island; compare Welsh ynys

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for inch

inch

[ ĭnch ]

A unit of length in the US Customary System equal to 112 of a foot (2.54 centimeters). See Table at measurement.

Other Idioms and Phrases with inch

inch

In addition to the idioms beginning with inch

inch along
inch by inch

also see:

by inches
every inch
give an inch
within an ace (inch) of

inch

Idioms about inch

Origin of inch

Other definitions for inch (2 of 2)

Origin of inch

Words related to inch

How to use inch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inch (1 of 2)

Word Origin for inch

British Dictionary definitions for inch (2 of 2)

Word Origin for inch

Scientific definitions for inch

Other Idioms and Phrases with inch