inch
An inch is a unit of measurement equivalent to 2.53 centimeters. There are 12 inches in a foot and 36 inches in a yard. (A yard is similar to a meter in length.)
- Gloria baked some bread in a nine-inch pan.
- The viewing area on a large cell phone is about five inches by three inches.
- The young man competing in the high jump missed the school record by just an inch.
- There were several inches of water in the basement following the heavy rain.
You can also use the word “inch” as a verb to describe slow movement.
- The kids are inching towards the door, eager to get outside and play.
- Traffic inched through the construction zone.
- There’s a turtle inching towards the water.
- Hikers inched along a narrow path around the mountain.
The word “inch” is frequently heard in expressions that describe small amounts:
- Inch by inch, she’s making progress.
- Don’t move an inch! There’s a bee on your head.
- If you give an inch, they’ll take a mile. (People will take advantage of your decision to compromise.)
- Don’t give up an inch. (Don’t compromise or allow someone to take something from you.)
- We’re just inches away from getting the deal done. (We’re almost finished.)
Measuring tape is used when measuring inches.