inch

¹

[ inch ]

noun

1. a unit of length, 1/12 (0.0833) foot, equivalent to 2.54 centimeters. : in.
2. 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)

1. to move by inches or small degrees:

   We inched our way along the road.

inch

²

[ inch ]

noun

, Scot.

1. a small island near the seacoast.

inch

¹

/ ɪntʃ /

noun

1. a small island

inch

²

/ ɪntʃ /

noun

1. a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot or 0.0254 metre
2. meteorol
   1. an amount of precipitation that would cover a surface with water one inch deep

      five inches of rain fell in January

   2. a unit of pressure equal to a mercury column one inch high in a barometer
3. a very small distance, degree, or amount
4. every inch
   in every way; completely

   he was every inch an aristocrat

5. inch by inch
   gradually; little by little
6. within an inch of
   very close to

verb

1. to move or be moved very slowly or in very small steps

   the car inched forward

2. trfoll byout to defeat (someone) by a very small margin

inch

/ ĭnch /

1. A unit of length in the US Customary System equal to 1 12 of a foot (2.54 centimeters).
2. See Table at measurement

Word History and Origins

Origin of inch¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English inch(e), unch(e), enche, Old English ynce, from Latin uncia “twelfth part, inch, ounce”; ounce ¹

Origin of inch²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Scots Gaelic innse, genitive of innis “island,” Old Irish inis, cognate with Welsh ynys, Breton enez

Word History and Origins

Origin of inch¹

C15: from Gaelic innis island; compare Welsh ynys

Origin of inch²

Old English ynce, from Latin uncia twelfth part; see ounce ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by inches,
   1. narrowly; by a narrow margin:

      escaped by inches.

   2. Also inch by inch. by small degrees or stages; gradually:

      The miners worked their way through the narrow shaft inch by inch.

2. every inch, in every respect; completely:

   That horse is every inch a thoroughbred.

3. within an inch of, nearly; close to:

   He came within an inch of getting killed in the crash.

More idioms and phrases containing inch

• by inches
• every inch
• give an inch
• within an ace (inch) of

Example Sentences

Police said she described her attacker as an adult male, bald and with brown eyes, standing 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 160 lbs.

From Los Angeles Times

Republicans have won back control of the Senate, the upper chamber of Congress, and are inching towards a majority in the House, the lower chamber, as vote-counting continues.

From BBC

"I know that we are going to make a difference at this conference. Thanks for the way you handled the situation. Maybe we can turn the battleship an inch or two."

From BBC

Ultimately, the valley saw 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch of rain, with more in the hills.

From Los Angeles Times

But he is rapidly inching closer toward influencing the federal response to infectious disease, vaccines and public health — which many scientists say would be detrimental to the nation.

From Salon