inch
(redirected from inching)Also found in: Thesaurus, Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia.
inch 1
(ĭnch)n. Abbr. in or in.
1. A unit of length in the US Customary and British Imperial systems, equal to 1/12 of a foot (2.54 centimeters). See Table at measurement.
2. A fall, as of rain or snow, sufficient to cover a surface to the depth of one inch.
3. A unit of atmospheric pressure that is equal to the pressure exerted by a one-inch column of mercury at the earth's surface at a temperature of 0°C.
4. A very small degree or amount: won't budge an inch.
intr. & tr.v. inched, inch·ing, inch·es
Idioms: To move or cause to move slowly or by small degrees: inching along through stalled traffic; inched the chair forward.
every inch
In every respect; entirely: "Ay, every inch a king!" (Shakespeare).
inch by inch
Very gradually or slowly.
within an inch of
Almost to the point of: came within an inch of death.
[Middle English, from Old English ynce, from Latin ūncia, one twelfth of a unit; see oi-no- in Indo-European roots.]
inch 2
(ĭnch)n. Scots
A small island.
[Middle English, from Scottish Gaelic innis, from Old Irish inis.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
inch
(ɪntʃ)n
1. (Units) a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot or 0.0254 metre
2. (Physical Geography) meteorol
a. an amount of precipitation that would cover a surface with water one inch deep: five inches of rain fell in January.
b. 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
vb
7. to move or be moved very slowly or in very small steps: the car inched forward.
8. (foll by: out) to defeat (someone) by a very small margin
[Old English ynce, from Latin uncia twelfth part; see ounce1]
inch
(ɪntʃ)n
Scot and Irish a small island
[C15: from Gaelic innis island; compare Welsh ynys]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
inch1
(ɪntʃ)n.
1. a unit of length, 1/12 of a foot, equivalent to 2.54 centimeters.
2. a very small amount, degree, or distance: averted disaster by an inch.
v.t., v.i. 3. to move by small degrees: We inched along the road.
Idioms: 1. every inch, in every respect; completely.
2. within an inch of, nearly; close to.
[before 1000; Middle English; Old English ynce < Latin uncia twelfth part, inch, ounce. See ounce1]
inch2
(ɪntʃ)n. Chiefly Scot.
[Middle English < Scottish Gaelic innse]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
inch
(ĭnch) A unit of length equal to 1/12 of a foot (2.54 centimeters). See Table at measurement.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
inch
Past participle: inched
Gerund: inching
| Imperative |
|---|
| inch |
| inch |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
inch
(in) A unit of length equal to 1⁄12 ft.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  inch - a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a footBritain, Great Britain, U.K., UK, United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom U.S.A., United States, United States of America, US, USA, America, the States, U.S. - North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776 linear measure, linear unit - a unit of measurement of length ligne - a linear unit (1/40 inch) used to measure diameter of buttons mesh - the number of openings per linear inch of a screen; measures size of particles; "a 100 mesh screen"; "100 mesh powdered cellulose" mil - a unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch; used to specify thickness (e.g., of sheets or wire) |
| 2. | inch - a unit of measurement for advertising space area unit, square measure - a system of units used to measure areas | |
| Verb | 1. | inch - advance slowly, as if by inches; "He edged towards the car" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
inch
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
inch
[ɪntʃ]A. N → pulgada f (= 2.54 cm) inches (= height) [of person] → estatura f
not an inch of territory → ni un palmo de territorio
the car missed me by inches → faltó poco para que me atropellara el coche
inch by inch → palmo a palmo
we searched every inch of the room → registramos todos los rincones del cuarto
every inch of it was used → se aprovechó hasta el último centímetro
he's every inch a soldier → es todo un soldado
he didn't give an inch → no hizo la menor concesión
to lose a few inches → adelgazar un poco
to be within an inch of death/disaster → estar a dos dedos de la muerte/del desastre
give him an inch and he'll take a mile → dale un dedo y se toma hasta el codo IMPERIAL SYSTEM
not an inch of territory → ni un palmo de territorio
the car missed me by inches → faltó poco para que me atropellara el coche
inch by inch → palmo a palmo
we searched every inch of the room → registramos todos los rincones del cuarto
every inch of it was used → se aprovechó hasta el último centímetro
he's every inch a soldier → es todo un soldado
he didn't give an inch → no hizo la menor concesión
to lose a few inches → adelgazar un poco
to be within an inch of death/disaster → estar a dos dedos de la muerte/del desastre
give him an inch and he'll take a mile → dale un dedo y se toma hasta el codo IMPERIAL SYSTEM
inch forward
A. VI + ADV to inch forward [person, vehicle] → avanzar muy lentamente
B. VT + ADV [+ vehicle] → hacer avanzar muy lentamente
inch out
inch up VI + ADV [prices] → subir poco a poco
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
inch
(intʃ) noun1. (often abbreviated to in when written) a measure of length, the twelfth part of a foot (2.54 centimetres). pulgada
2. a small amount. There is not an inch of room to spare.pizca, poco, centímetro
verb to move slowly and carefully. He inched (his way) along the narrow ledge. avanzar poco a poco/gradualmente
within an inch of almost; very near(ly). He came within an inch of failing the exam. a dos dedos de, muy cerca de
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
inch
→ pulgadaMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
inch
n. pulgada.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
inch
n pulgada, 2,54 centímetrosEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.