Inch

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪntʃ/
• Rhymes: -ɪntʃ

From Old English ynce, from Latin uncia ("twelfth part"). Compare ounce.

Full definition of inch

Noun

1. A unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot, or exactly 2.54 centimetres.
2. (meteorology) The amount of water which would cover a surface to the depth of an inch, used as a measurement of rainfall.
3. (figuratively) A very short distance."Don't move an inch!"
• ShakespeareBeldame, I think we watched you at an inch.

Derived terms

• every inch
• in for an inch, in for a mile
• inch-perfect

Verb

1. (intransitive, followed by a preposition) To advance very slowly, or by a small amount (in a particular direction).Fearful of falling, he inched along the window ledge.
• 1957, J. D. Salinger, "Zooey", in, 1961, :The window blind had been lowered — Zooey had done all his bathtub reading by the light from the three-bulb overhead fixture—but a fraction of morning light inched under the blind and onto the title page of the manuscript.
• 2012, May 9, John Percy, Birmingham City 2 Blackpool 2 (2-3 on agg): match report, Already guarding a 1-0 lead from the first leg, Blackpool inched further ahead when Stephen Dobbie scored from an acute angle on the stroke of half-time. The game appeared to be completely beyond Birmingham’s reach three minutes into the second period when Matt Phillips reacted quickly to bundle the ball past Colin Doyle and off a post.
2. To drive by inches, or small degrees.
• DrydenHe gets too far into the soldier's grace
  And inches out my master.
3. To deal out by inches; to give sparingly.

Derived terms

• inch along
• inch forward
• inch up
• inchworm

From Gaelic innis

Noun

1. (Scotland) A small island
• Sir Walter Scott, RosabelleThe blackening wave is edged with white;
  To inch and rock the sea-mews fly.

Usage notes

Found especially in the names of small Scottish islands, e.g. Inchcolm, Inchkeith.

Anagrams

• chin , Chin