inch

inch
(in or ")
   1. a traditional unit of distance equal to 1/12 foot or exactly 2.54 centimeters. The Old English word ynce is derived from the Latin uncia, meaning a 1/12 part; thus "inch" and "ounce" actually have the same root. The inch was originally defined in England in two ways: as the length of three barleycorns laid end to end, or as the width of a man's thumb at the base of the nail. The barleycorn definition is peculiarly English, but the thumb-width definition is generic. In fact, in many European languages the word for inch also means thumb: examples include the Dutch duim, Swedish tum, French pouce, and Spanish pulgada. In the history of English units the inch seems to come before the foot: after the Norman conquest of 1066 the foot was defined to equal 12 inches, rather than the inch being defined as 1/12 foot.
   2. one of several traditional units of pressure. Air pressure is measured traditionally in inches of mercury (next entry) and water pressure in inches of water column (following entry).

Dictionary of units of measurement. 2015.

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  • Inch — Inch, n. [OE. inche, unche, AS. ynce, L. uncia the twelfth part, inch, ounce. See {Ounce} a weight.] [1913 Webster] 1. A measure of length, the twelfth part of a foot, commonly subdivided into halves, quarters, eights, sixteenths, etc., as among… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inch — inch1 [inch] n. [ME inche < OE ynce < L uncia, twelfth part, inch, OUNCE1] 1. a unit of length in the FPS system, equal to 1/ 12 foot (2.54 cm): symbol, ″: abbrev. in 2. a fall (of rain, snow, etc.) equal to the amount that would cover a… …   English World dictionary

  • Inch — 〈[ ı̣ntʃ] m. od. n.; , es; bei Maßangaben Pl.: ; Abk.: in.; 〉 engl. Längenmaß, Zoll, 2,54 cm [engl.] * * * Inch [ɪnt̮ʃ], der; [es], es […t̮ʃɪs] <aber: 4 Inch[es]> [engl. inch, aengl. ynce < lat. uncia, ↑ 1Unze]: Längeneinheit in… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • inch — [ɪntʆ] noun [countable] a unit for measuring length, equal to 2.54 centimetres * * * Ⅰ. inch UK US /ɪnʃ/ noun [C] (abbreviation in., symbol ʺ) ► MEASURES a unit of measure equal to one twelfth of a foot or 2.54 centimetres: » …   Financial and business terms

  • inch — ► NOUN 1) a unit of linear measure equal to one twelfth of a foot (2.54 cm). 2) a quantity of rainfall that would cover a horizontal surface to a depth of one inch. 3) a very small amount or distance: don t yield an inch. ► VERB ▪ move along… …   English terms dictionary

  • Inch —    INCH, a parish, in the county of Wigton, 2½ miles (E.) from Stranraer; containing, with the hamlets of Aird, Cairnryan, and Lochans, 2950 inhabitants. This place, which is of great antiquity, and distinguished for its lochs, appears to have… …   A Topographical dictionary of Scotland

  • Inch — Inch, a. Measuring an inch in any dimension, whether length, breadth, or thickness; used in composition; as, a two inch cable; a four inch plank. [1913 Webster] {Inch stuff}, boards, etc., sawed one inch thick. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inch — inch·er; inch·ling; inch·ma·ree; inch·meal; inch; mi·cro·inch; mil·inch; …   English syllables

  • inch — s.m. Unitate de măsură pentru lungime, egală cu 2,54 cm, folosită în Anglia şi în Statele Unite ale Americii. [pr.: inci] – cuv. engl. Trimis de valeriu, 25.11.2008. Sursa: DEX 98  inch (unitate de măsură pentru lungime) s. m. [pron. engl. inci] …   Dicționar Român

  • Inch — Inch, v. i. To advance or retire by inches or small degrees; to move slowly; as, to inch forward. [1913 Webster] With slow paces measures back the field, And inches to the walls. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inch — n a unit of length equal to 1/36 yard or 2.54 centimeters * * * (in) (inch) a unit of linear measure, one twelfth of a foot, being the equivalent of 2.54 cm …   Medical dictionary

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