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inch - 14 dictionary results

inch

1  [inch]
Use inch in a Sentence
–noun
1. a unit of length, 1/12 foot, equivalent to 2.54 centimeters.
2. a very small amount of anything; narrow margin: to win by an inch; to avert disaster by an inch.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
3. to move by inches or small degrees: We inched our way along the road.
—Idioms
4. by inches,
a. narrowly; by a narrow margin: escaped by inches.
b. Also, inch by inch. by small degrees or stages; gradually: The miners worked their way through the narrow shaft inch by inch.
5. every inch, in every respect; completely: That horse is every inch a thoroughbred.
6. within an inch of, nearly; close to: He came within an inch of getting killed in the crash.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME; OE ynce < L uncia twelfth part, inch, ounce. See ounce 1

inch

2  [inch]
–noun Scot.
a small island near the seacoast.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < ScotGael innse, gen. of innis island, OIr inis, c. Welsh ynys
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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inch 1   (ĭnch)   
n.   Abbr. in or in.
  1. A unit of length in the U.S. Customary and British Imperial systems, equal to 1/12 of a foot (2.54 centimeters). See Table at measurement.
  2. A fall, as of rain or snow, sufficient to cover a surface to the depth of one inch.
  3. A unit of atmospheric pressure that is equal to the pressure exerted by a one-inch column of mercury at the earth's surface at a temperature of 0°C.
  4. A very small degree or amount: won't budge an inch.
intr. & tr.v.   inched, inch·ing, inch·es
To move or cause to move slowly or by small degrees: inching along through stalled traffic; inched the chair forward.

[Middle English, from Old English ynce, from Latin ūncia, one twelfth of a unit; see oi-no- in Indo-European roots.]
inch 2   (ĭnch)   
n.   Scots
A small island.

[Middle English, from Scottish Gaelic innis, from Old Irish inis.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Inch

Inch\, n. [Gael. inis.] An island; -- often used in the names of small islands off the coast of Scotland, as in Inchcolm, Inchkeith, etc. [Scot.]

Inch

Inch\, n. [OE. inche, unche, AS. ynce, L. uncia the twelfth part, inch, ounce. See Ounce a weight.]

1. A measure of length, the twelfth part of a foot, commonly subdivided into halves, quarters, eights, sixteenths, etc., as among mechanics. It was also formerly divided into twelve parts, called lines, and originally into three parts, called barleycorns, its length supposed to have been determined from three grains of barley placed end to end lengthwise. It is also sometimes called a prime ('), composed of twelve seconds ("), as in the duodecimal system of arithmetic.

12 seconds (") make 1 inch or prime. 12 inches or primes (') make 1 foot. --B. Greenleaf.

Note: The meter, the accepted scientific standard of length, equals 39.37 inches; the inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters. See Metric system, and Meter.

2. A small distance or degree, whether of time or space; hence, a critical moment.

Beldame, I think we watched you at an inch. --Shak.

By inches, by slow degrees, gradually.

Inch of candle. See under Candle.

Inches of pressure, usually, the pressure indicated by so many inches of a mercury column, as on a steam gauge.

Inch of water. See under Water.

Miner's inch, (Hydraulic Mining), a unit for the measurement of water. See Inch of water, under Water.

Inch

Inch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inched; p. pr. & vb. n. Inching.]

1. To drive by inches, or small degrees. [R.]

He gets too far into the soldier's grace And inches out my master. --Dryden.

2. To deal out by inches; to give sparingly. [R.]

Inch

Inch\, v. i. To advance or retire by inches or small degrees; to move slowly.

With slow paces measures back the field, And inches to the walls. --Dryden.

Inch

Inch\, a. Measurement an inch in any dimension, whether length, breadth, or thickness; -- used in composition; as, a two-inch cable; a four-inch plank.

Inch stuff, boards, etc., sawed one inch thick.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : inch
Spanish: pulgada,
German: der Zoll,
Japanese: インチ
More Translations »

inch  (1)
"linear measure, one-twelfth of a foot," late O.E. ynce, M.E. unche (current spelling c.1300), from L. uncia "a twelfth part," from root of unus "one;" an early borrowing from L., not found in any other Gmc. language. Transf. and fig. sense of "a very small amount" is attested from c.1350. The verb meaning "move little by little" is first recorded 1599, from the noun. Inchworm first recorded 1861. For phrase give him an inch ... see ell.

inch  (2)
"small Scottish island," c.1425, from Gael. innis (gen. innse) "island, land by a river."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: inch
Pronunciation: 'inch
Function: noun
: a unit of length equal to 1/36 yard or 2.54 centimeters
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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inch   (ĭnch)  Pronunciation Key 
A unit of length in the US Customary System equal to 1/12 of a foot (2.54 centimeters). See Table at measurement.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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inch

In addition to the idioms beginning with inch, also see by inches; every inch; give an inch; within an ace (inch) of.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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