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 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

²

/ ɪntʃ /

noun

1. a small island

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

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

Origin of inch²

C15: from Gaelic innis island; compare Welsh ynys

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

Place on the sheets about 2 inches apart.

From Salon

After previous wildfires, the Army Corps would first scrape 6 inches of topsoil from cleared properties and then test the ground underneath.

From Los Angeles Times

Green held the thumb and forefinger of one hand maybe an inch apart to indicate how close.

From Los Angeles Times

Long Beach Wilson’s Loren Webster won the Invitational girls long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 10 inches and Camren Smith of Quartz Hill won the Invitational boys triple jump at 49-06.00.

From Los Angeles Times

Not quite sorry; perhaps a few inches shy of empathy.

From Salon