inch

1
[ inch ]
/ ɪntʃ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR inch ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Idioms for inch

Origin of inch

1
before 1000; Middle English; Old English ynce < Latin uncia twelfth part, inch, ounce. See ounce1

Words nearby inch

inceptive, incertitude, incessant, incest, incestuous, inch, inch along, inch by inch, inch of mercury, inch plant, inch-pound

Words related to every inch

absolutely, thoroughly, quite, entirely, perfectly, totally, wholly, positively, altogether, intimately, outright, royal, utterly

British Dictionary definitions for every inch (1 of 2)

inch 1
/ (ɪntʃ) /

noun

verb

to move or be moved very slowly or in very small steps the 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 every inch (2 of 2)

inch 2
/ (ɪntʃ) /

noun

Scot and Irish a small island

Word Origin for inch

C15: from Gaelic innis island; compare Welsh ynys

Scientific definitions for every 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.

Idioms and Phrases with every inch (1 of 2)

every inch

Completely, wholly, as in He was every inch a leader, or I had to argue this case every inch of the way. [Early 1400s]

Idioms and Phrases with every inch (2 of 2)

inch