inch

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈinch

: a unit of length equal to ¹/₃₆ yard see Weights and Measures Table

: a small amount, distance, or degree

is like cutting a dog's tail off by inches

Milton Friedman

inches plural : stature, height

: a fall (as of rain or snow) sufficient to cover a surface or to fill a gauge to the depth of one inch

: a degree of atmospheric or other pressure sufficient to balance the weight of a column of liquid (such as mercury) one inch high in a barometer or manometer

: a small advantage especially from lenient or compassionate treatment

—usually used in the phrase give an inch

inch

2 of 3

verb

inched; inching; inches

intransitive verb

: to move by small degrees : progress slowly

the long line of people inching up the stairs

transitive verb

: to cause to move slowly

sooner or later they begin inching prices back up

Forbes

inch

3 of 3

noun (2)

chiefly Scotland

: island

Did you know?

The ancient Romans used a system of weights and measures based on units divided into 12 parts. Thus the Latin uncia, meaning “a 12th part,” designated the 12th part of a foot. From this is derived Old English ince or ynce and modern English inch. The Roman pound was also divided into 12 parts, similarly designated by the word uncia. In this sense uncia followed a different path and became Middle English unce or ounce, which was the 12th part of a pound in the troy system. In the avoirdupois system, which is more widely used, the pound is larger and equals 16 ounces. The English noun inch dates to before the 12th century; the verb meaning “to move very slowly” does not appear until around 1600.

inches 1 of 2

noun

plural of inch

as in height

the distance of something or someone from bottom to top made the most of her inches by standing on her tiptoes to reach the top shelf

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

height
elevation
altitude
stature
tallness
rise
highness
loftiness

inches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of inch

as in encroaches

to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits every year the water inches further up the embankments, threatening to permanently engulf the island city

Synonyms & Similar Words

encroaches
worms
snakes
creeps
impinges
intrenches
sneaks
invades
oversteps
overshoots
intrudes
overruns
infringes
entrenches
overpasses
overreaches

as in drags

to move slowly the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway

Synonyms & Similar Words

drags
crawls
snails
slouches
pokes
creeps
shuffles
noses
oozes
limps
creaks (along)
trudges
plods
shambles
lumbers
tramps

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

speeds
races
floats
flies
tears
zips
glides
sails
whizzes
hurries

单词	inches
释义	inch 1 of 3 noun (1) ˈinch 1 : a unit of length equal to ¹/₃₆ yard see Weights and Measures Table 2 : a small amount, distance, or degree is like cutting a dog's tail off by inches Milton Friedman 3 inches plural : stature, height 4 a : a fall (as of rain or snow) sufficient to cover a surface or to fill a gauge to the depth of one inch b : a degree of atmospheric or other pressure sufficient to balance the weight of a column of liquid (such as mercury) one inch high in a barometer or manometer 5 : a small advantage especially from lenient or compassionate treatment —usually used in the phrase give an inch inch 2 of 3 verb inched; inching; inches intransitive verb : to move by small degrees : progress slowly the long line of people inching up the stairs transitive verb : to cause to move slowly sooner or later they begin inching prices back up Forbes inch 3 of 3 noun (2) chiefly Scotland : island Phrases every inch : to the utmost degree looks every inch a winner inch by inch : very gradually or slowly within an inch of : almost to the point of came within an inch of succeeding Did you know? The ancient Romans used a system of weights and measures based on units divided into 12 parts. Thus the Latin uncia, meaning “a 12th part,” designated the 12th part of a foot. From this is derived Old English ince or ynce and modern English inch. The Roman pound was also divided into 12 parts, similarly designated by the word uncia. In this sense uncia followed a different path and became Middle English unce or ounce, which was the 12th part of a pound in the troy system. In the avoirdupois system, which is more widely used, the pound is larger and equals 16 ounces. The English noun inch dates to before the 12th century; the verb meaning “to move very slowly” does not appear until around 1600. Synonyms Noun (1) ace hair hairbreadth hairsbreadth hairline hop, skip, and jump neck shouting distance step stone's throw Verb creep encroach worm See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb We inched along in heavy traffic. As she neared the finish line, she inched ahead of the other racers. Gas prices are inching up again. I inched the car into the garage. Word History Etymology Noun (1) Middle English, from Old English ynce, from Latin uncia — more at ounce Noun (2) Middle English (Scots), from Scottish Gaelic innis First Known Use Noun (1) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb 1599, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense Noun (2) 15th century, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing inch every inch of every inch/step of the way every inch inch plant inch by inch every inch of the way give/budge an inch within an inch of acre-inch every inch of every inch/step of the way every inch inch plant inch by inch every inch of the way give/budge an inch within an inch of acre-inch See More Kids Definition inch 1 of 2 noun ˈinch : a unit of length equal to ¹/₃₆ yard (2.54 centimeters) inch 2 of 2 verb inched; inching : to move a little bit at a time We inched to the ticket counter. Medical Definition inch noun ˈinch : a unit of length equal to ¹/₃₆ yard or 2.54 centimeters inches 1 of 2 noun plural of inch as in height the distance of something or someone from bottom to top made the most of her inches by standing on her tiptoes to reach the top shelf Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance height elevation altitude stature tallness rise highness loftiness inches 2 of 2 verb present tense third-person singular of inch 1 as in encroaches to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits every year the water inches further up the embankments, threatening to permanently engulf the island city Synonyms & Similar Words encroaches worms snakes creeps impinges intrenches sneaks invades oversteps overshoots intrudes overruns infringes entrenches overpasses overreaches 2 as in drags to move slowly the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway Synonyms & Similar Words drags crawls snails slouches pokes creeps shuffles noses oozes limps creaks (along) trudges plods shambles lumbers tramps Antonyms & Near Antonyms speeds races floats flies tears zips glides sails whizzes hurries See More
随便看	in one's (own) sweet time in one's blood in one's book in one's cups in one's day in one's element in one's face in one's favor in one's glory in one's good books in one's hair in one's head in one's heart in one's infancy in one's mind's eye in one's old age in one's own (good) time in one's own good time in one's own right in one's own sweet time in one's own time in one's own world in one's pocket in one's prime in one's right mind

inch

noun (1)

verb

noun (2)

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Example Sentences

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Phrases Containing inch

Kids Definition

noun

verb

Medical Definition

noun

noun

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