1a unit of linear measure equal to one twelfth of a foot (2.54 cm):the toy train is four inches longeighteen inches of thread
(inches) informal a person’s height or waist measurement:my only reservation is the goalkeeper’s lack of inches
[often with negative] a very small amount or distance:I had no intention of budging an inch
2a unit used to express other quantities, in particular:
(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:more than four inches of rain is expected
(also inch of mercury) (as a unit of atmospheric pressure) an amount that would support a column of mercury one-inch high in a barometer (equal to 33.86 millibars, 29.5 inches being equal to one bar).
(as a unit of map scale) so many inches representing one mile on the ground: [in combination]:one-inch maps of the east Midland counties
ზმნა
Universal
move along slowly and carefully:he inched away as I approached figurativeSpain’s conservatives are inching ahead
[with object and adverbial of direction] cause (something) to move slowly and carefully:he inched the car forward
by inches
only just:the shot missed her by inches
every inch
1the whole surface, distance, or area:between them they know every inch of the country
2entirely; very much so:he’s every inch the gentleman
give someone an inch and he (or she) will take a mile
proverb once concessions have been made to someone they will demand a great deal:she stared back at him, refusing to give him an inch
inch by inch
gradually:inch by inch he crept along the wall
within an inch of
very close to:her mouth was within an inch of his chin
(to) within an inch of one's life
almost to the point of death:he was beaten within an inch of his life
