| 释义 |
inch
I. \ˈinch\ noun
(-es)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English inch, inche, from Old English ince, ynce, from Latin uncia twelfth part, ounce, inch — more at ounce
1. : a unit of length equal to 1/36 yard or formerly to the length of 3 grains of barley placed end to end
< a 6-inch rule >
< a width of six inches >
— see measure table
2. : a small amount, distance, or degree (as of time or space) : a narrow margin or little bit
< escaped death by an inch >
< couldn't see an inch before them in the storm >
3. inches plural : stature, height
< wore raised heels to make the most of his inches >
< a man of his inches would be noticeable in any crowd >
4.
a. : a fall (as of rain or snow) sufficient to cover a surface or to fill a gage to the depth of one inch
< two inches of rain >
b. : a degree of atmospheric or other pressure sufficient to balance the weight of a column of mercury or other specified liquid one inch high in a barometer or manometer
< an atmospheric pressure of 30 inches >
c. : water-inch
d. chiefly Midland : one twelfth of the light period of a day
< worked a full 12 inches getting in the hay >
e. : column inch
•
- by inches
- by inch of candle
- every inch
- within an inch of
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-es)
intransitive verb
: to advance or retire by small degrees
< inched back from the lip of the crevasse >
broadly : to move slowly or in little increments
< inching along the slippery ridge >
< Canada and the United States are inching back to the unity of action achieved 10 years ago — M.W.Straight >
< prices are inching down >
transitive verb
1. : to cause to advance or retire by small degrees
< inched himself nearer >
broadly : to cause to move slowly or in little increments
< inching their feet slowly over the ice >
< inching not only the United States but the United Nations forward into a war that did not have to be fought — H.L.Ickes >
2. obsolete : to give sparingly : deal out in small amounts
III. noun
(-es)
Etymology: Middle English inch, ynche, from Scottish Gaelic innis; akin to Old Irish inis island, Welsh ynys, Breton enez
1. now dialect : island — often used in the names of small islands off the coast of Scotland
< Inchcolm >
< Inchkeith >
2. now dialect : low grassy ground by a river
IV. abbreviation
inchoative |