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 inch by inch

regularly, increasingly, constantly, moderately, gently, deliberately, steadily, progressively, continuously, gradually, piecemeal, inchmeal, imperceptibly, perceptibly, sequentially, serially, successively, unhurriedly

British Dictionary definitions for inch by 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 inch by 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 inch by 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 inch by inch (1 of 2)

inch by inch

see by inches.

Idioms and Phrases with inch by inch (2 of 2)

inch