INCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does inch mean? 

• INCH (noun)
  The noun INCH has 2 senses:

1. a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot

2. a unit of measurement for advertising space

  Familiarity information: INCH used as a noun is rare.

• INCH (verb)
  The verb INCH has 1 sense:

1. advance slowly, as if by inches

  Familiarity information: INCH used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

in; inch

Hypernyms ("inch" is a kind of...):

linear measure; linear unit (a unit of measurement of length)

Meronyms (parts of "inch"):

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)

mil (a unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch; used to specify thickness (e.g., of sheets or wire))

em; pica; pica em (a linear unit (1/6 inch) used in printing)

Domain region:

Britain; 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)

America; the States; U.S.; U.S.A.; United States; United States of America; US; USA (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)

Holonyms ("inch" is a part of...):

foot; ft (a linear unit of length equal to 12 inches or a third of a yard)

Derivation:

inch (advance slowly, as if by inches)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A unit of measurement for advertising space

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

column inch; inch

Hypernyms ("inch" is a kind of...):

area unit; square measure (a system of units used to measure areas)

• INCH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they inch    ... he / she / it inches   
Past simple: inched   
Past participle: inched   
-ing form: inching   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Advance slowly, as if by inches

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

edge; inch

Context example:

He edged towards the car

Hypernyms (to "inch" is one way to...):

advance; go on; march on; move on; pass on; progress (move forward, also in the metaphorical sense)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

inch (a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot)

 Context examples 

Height: 22-26 inches (56-66 cm.) Weight: 60-75 pounds (27-34 kg.)

(Belgian Tervuren, NCI Thesaurus)

Their linen is usually three inches wide, and three feet make a piece.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

It has large and powerful jaws with a coarse, waterproof coat that covers the legs with 2 to 4 inches hair.

(Black Russian Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)

For a hundred strokes he did not seem to gain an inch.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was only an inch to lean, and it was accomplished without volition on her part.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Height: 22-26 inches (56-66 cm.) Weight: 55-65 pounds (24-29 kg.)

(Belgian Malinois, NCI Thesaurus)

Height: 15-17 inches (38-43cm) Weight: 18-23 pounds (8-10 kg.)

(Bedlington Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)

A traditional French unit of length equal to approximately 0.3248 meter or 12.79 inches.

(Pied, NCI Thesaurus)

The recurring words, “water pressure” and “pressure to the square inch” suggested some possible relation to a submarine.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In each case it is only about three inches.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)