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
Inch colm
Inch keith
2. now dialect : low grassy ground by a river
IV. abbreviation
inchoative