inch

inch
I UK [ɪntʃ] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "inch":
singular inch plural inches
***
a unit for measuring length. An inch is equal to 2.54 centimetres. There are 12 inches in one foot

The car stopped only about three inches from the edge of the cliff.

an inch high/long/wide:

The insect was about an inch long.

a) a very small distance or amount

The gun was inches away from his face.

b) an amount of rain, snow, soil etc that would cover a surface with a layer that is one inch deep

The city was cut off for hours after 10 inches of snow fell overnight.

•

beat/thrash someone (to) within an inch of their life — to hit someone so hard that they nearly die

every inch (of something) — the whole of an area or place

Every inch of space was taken up with bookshelves.

give someone an inch (and they'll take a mile/yard) — used for saying that if you agree to give someone something that they want, they will then want to take more

look/be every inch something — to look/be completely like a particular type of person

His wife looked every inch a Hollywood beauty.

not give/budge an inch — to completely refuse to change your opinion or decision

I've tried everything to persuade her but she won't budge an inch.


II UK [ɪntʃ] / US verb
Word forms "inch":
present tense I/you/we/they inch he/she/it inches present participle inching past tense inched past participle inched
1) [intransitive/transitive] to move somewhere very slowly and gradually, or to make something do this
inch along/forward/up/towards:

Maggie tapped impatiently on the steering wheel and inched slowly forward.

A dark shadow inched its way along the wall.

2) [intransitive] to gradually become greater or smaller in amount or number
inch up/down/higher/lower:

Interest rates have been inching up over the past year.


English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Inch — Inch, n. [OE. inche, unche, AS. ynce, L. uncia the twelfth part, inch, ounce. See {Ounce} a weight.] [1913 Webster] 1. A measure of length, the twelfth part of a foot, commonly subdivided into halves, quarters, eights, sixteenths, etc., as among… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inch — inch1 [inch] n. [ME inche < OE ynce < L uncia, twelfth part, inch, OUNCE1] 1. a unit of length in the FPS system, equal to 1/ 12 foot (2.54 cm): symbol, ″: abbrev. in 2. a fall (of rain, snow, etc.) equal to the amount that would cover a… …   English World dictionary

  • Inch — 〈[ ı̣ntʃ] m. od. n.; , es; bei Maßangaben Pl.: ; Abk.: in.; 〉 engl. Längenmaß, Zoll, 2,54 cm [engl.] * * * Inch [ɪnt̮ʃ], der; [es], es […t̮ʃɪs] <aber: 4 Inch[es]> [engl. inch, aengl. ynce < lat. uncia, ↑ 1Unze]: Längeneinheit in… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • inch — [ɪntʆ] noun [countable] a unit for measuring length, equal to 2.54 centimetres * * * Ⅰ. inch UK US /ɪnʃ/ noun [C] (abbreviation in., symbol ʺ) ► MEASURES a unit of measure equal to one twelfth of a foot or 2.54 centimetres: » …   Financial and business terms

  • inch — ► NOUN 1) a unit of linear measure equal to one twelfth of a foot (2.54 cm). 2) a quantity of rainfall that would cover a horizontal surface to a depth of one inch. 3) a very small amount or distance: don t yield an inch. ► VERB ▪ move along… …   English terms dictionary

  • Inch —    INCH, a parish, in the county of Wigton, 2½ miles (E.) from Stranraer; containing, with the hamlets of Aird, Cairnryan, and Lochans, 2950 inhabitants. This place, which is of great antiquity, and distinguished for its lochs, appears to have… …   A Topographical dictionary of Scotland

  • Inch — Inch, a. Measuring an inch in any dimension, whether length, breadth, or thickness; used in composition; as, a two inch cable; a four inch plank. [1913 Webster] {Inch stuff}, boards, etc., sawed one inch thick. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inch — inch·er; inch·ling; inch·ma·ree; inch·meal; inch; mi·cro·inch; mil·inch; …   English syllables

  • inch — s.m. Unitate de măsură pentru lungime, egală cu 2,54 cm, folosită în Anglia şi în Statele Unite ale Americii. [pr.: inci] – cuv. engl. Trimis de valeriu, 25.11.2008. Sursa: DEX 98  inch (unitate de măsură pentru lungime) s. m. [pron. engl. inci] …   Dicționar Român

  • Inch — Inch, v. i. To advance or retire by inches or small degrees; to move slowly; as, to inch forward. [1913 Webster] With slow paces measures back the field, And inches to the walls. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inch — n a unit of length equal to 1/36 yard or 2.54 centimeters * * * (in) (inch) a unit of linear measure, one twelfth of a foot, being the equivalent of 2.54 cm …   Medical dictionary

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