inch

INCH/ɪnt͡ʃ/

12 meanings of inch

1
nouncountable
A small unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot, about as wide as a thumb.
About as wide as the top of your thumb.
Each tile is exactly one inch thick.
The shelf sits twelve inches above the desk.
Note
2
nounfigurativelycountable
A very small distance or amount.
Like missing something by just a hair.
He missed the catch by an inch.
The car stopped just inches from the wall.
Similarfraction, whisker
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3
verbintransitive
To move forward very slowly, a little at a time.
Like a snail slowly crossing a path.
Cars inch forward when the traffic is heavy.
The long line inched toward the door.
Similarcreep, edge, crawl, shuffle
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4
nouncountable
A rainfall amount that would cover flat ground one inch deep.
Like rain filling a flat dish until the water is one thumb deep.
The storm dropped almost an inch of rain overnight.
Two inches of rain fell in just one hour.
Note
5
nouncountable
A measure of a drink equal to a depth of one inch in a glass.
He poured an inch of whiskey into the glass.
She left two inches of wine in her glass.
6
nouncountable
A unit of length like the inch, used in older measuring systems of other countries.
Like how a cup of flour can mean a slightly different amount in different countries.
The old French inch was a little longer than ours.
Long ago, many countries used their own inches.
7
verbtransitive
To push something forward little by little.
Like pushing a heavy box forward a tiny bit at a time.
Workers inch the heavy crate across the floor.
They inched the piano through the narrow doorway.
Similarease, edge, nudge
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8
verbtransitive
To give something out in very small amounts.
Like giving away candy one small piece at a time.
Tight bosses inch out raises one tiny step at a time.
The manager inched out praise as if it cost him money.
Similardole, ration, parcel
9
noundialectalIrelandScotlandcountable
A very small island.
Like a tiny piece of land with water all around it.
The castle stood on a small inch in the loch.
Seals basked on the rocky inches near the shore.
Similarislet, island, isle
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10
noundialectalIrelandScotlandcountable
A grassy meadow or field, often near a river.
Like a flat green field right next to a stream.
Cows grazed on the wide inch beside the river.
The children played in the green inches by the water.
Similarmeadow, pasture, field
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11
adjectivecolloquialHong Kong
Acting too proud and rude in a bold way.
Don't be so inch with your teacher.
He gets really inch whenever he wins a game.
Similarcocky, cheeky, brash, impudent
Oppositehumble, modest, meek
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12
verbcolloquialHong Kongtransitive
To make fun of someone with a bold, cheeky remark, or to talk in a cocky way.
Don't inch me about my haircut, lah. I know it looks bad.
They inch each other all day just for laughs.
Similartaunt, tease, mock, needle
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–8

It comes from Latin uncia, a Roman unit, through Old English. The Latin word goes all the way back to an ancient root meaning "one."

Meanings 9–10

It comes from Scots inch, from a Scottish Gaelic word.

Meanings 11–12

It is a meaning borrowed from the Cantonese word 寸 (cyun³, "inch").