inch: Meaning and Definition of

inch

Pronunciation: (inch), [key]
— n.
  1. a unit of length, foot, equivalent to 2.54 centimeters.
  2. a very small amount of anything; narrow margin: to win by an inch; to avert disaster by an inch.
  3. escaped by inches.
    1. narrowly; by a narrow margin:escaped by inches.
    2. Also,inch by inch.by small degrees or stages; gradually:The miners worked their way through the narrow shaft inch by inch.
  4. in every respect; completely: That horse is every inch a thoroughbred.
  5. nearly; close to: He came within an inch of getting killed in the crash.
—v.t., v.i.
  1. to move by inches or small degrees: We inched our way along the road.

inch

Pronunciation: (inch), [key]
— n. Scot.
  1. a small island near the seacoast.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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