inch

Definitions


[ɪn(t)ʃ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a unit of linear measure equal to one twelfth of a foot (2.54 cm)
(e.g: the toy train is four inches long)

- (as a unit of rainfall) a quantity that would cover a horizontal surface to a depth of one inch, equivalent to 253.7 cubic metres per hectare
(e.g: more than four inches of rain is expected)


Phrases:
- by inches
- every inch
- give an inch
- give someone an inch and they will take a mile
- inch by inch
- within an inch of
- within an inch of one's life

Origin:
late Old English ynce, from Latin uncia ‘twelfth part’, from unus ‘one’ (probably denoting a unit). Compare with ounce


[ɪn(t)ʃ], (Verb)

Definitions:
- move along slowly and carefully
(e.g: he inched away as I approached)


Phrases:
- by inches
- every inch
- give an inch
- give someone an inch and they will take a mile
- inch by inch
- within an inch of
- within an inch of one's life

Origin:
late Old English ynce, from Latin uncia ‘twelfth part’, from unus ‘one’ (probably denoting a unit). Compare with ounce


[ɪn(t)ʃ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a small island or a small area of high land
(e.g: Inchkeith)


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English: from Scottish Gaelic innis




definition by Oxford Dictionaries