inch

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Measurement

inch1 /ɪntʃ/ ●●● S2 W3 noun [countable]  1  (written abbreviation in British English or in. American English)TM a unit for measuring length, equal to 2.54 centimetres. There are 12 inches in a foot 英寸〔长度单位，等于2.54 厘米。1英尺为12英寸〕 The curtains were an inch too short. 窗帘短了一英寸。 Rainfall here is under 15 inches a year. 本地的年降雨量不到15英寸。a one-/two-/three- etc inch something a six-inch nail 六英寸长的钉子2  LITTLE/NOT MUCHa very small distance 很短的距离 Derek leaned closer, his face only inches from hers. 德里克靠得更近了，他的脸几乎贴到她的脸上。 The bus missed us by inches. 公共汽车差一点就撞着我们了。 On several occasions, they came within inches of death. 有几次他们都险些丧命。3  every inch a) COMPLETEcompletely or in every way 完全地；不折不扣地 With her designer clothes and elegant hair, she looks every inch the celebrity. 她穿着著名设计师设计的服装，发型优雅，看起来完全像个名人。 b) EVERYWHEREthe whole of an area or distance 〔某地区的〕全部；全程every inch of Every inch of space in the tiny shop was crammed with goods. 这家小商店的每一寸地方都塞满了商品。 Italy deserved to win, though Greece made them fight every inch of the way. 意大利队应该获胜，虽然在希腊队的逼迫下，他们全局打得都很艰苦。4. give somebody an inch and they’ll take a yard/mile WATCHused to say that, if you allow someone a little freedom or power, they will try to take more 某人会得寸进尺5  inch by inch SLOWmoving very gradually and slowly 〔移动〕一点一点地，缓慢地 Inch by inch, he lowered himself from the roof. 他慢慢地从屋顶下来。6  not give/budge an inch REFUSEto refuse to change your decision or opinion, even though people are trying to persuade you to do this 寸步不让 Neither side is prepared to give an inch in the negotiations. 双方都无意在谈判中作丝毫让步。7  beat/thrash etc somebody to within an inch of their life BEAT/DEFEATto beat someone very hard and thoroughly 痛打某人，狠揍某人 Another word out of you and I’ll beat you to within an inch of your life. 再说一句，我就揍死你。

Examples from the Corpus

inch• Cut into rounds 1 inch larger in diameter than casseroles.• Set the pumpkins in a baking dish and add 1 / 4 inch of water to the bottom of the pan.• She could see that her hair had grown by perhaps half an inch.• He gave me an inch in a tumbler.• When Terrence Real was a boy, his father routinely threatened to beat him within an inch of his life.• The next bullet missed Billy's kneecaps by inches.• She looks every inch the high-powered businesswoman.• Hanns Ebensten describes the puppets as' marionettes, on strings, about fourteen inches high.• Fourteen inches from the floor it's supposed to be, yet it's nearly tripping me.• Storms have dumped nine inches on San Antonio since Wednesday.a one-/two-/three- etc inch something• I had my first good bite, a two inch lift then the indicator dropping like the clappers on a slack line.• I provide you with a one inch to the mile map, and a box of matches each one inch long.only inches from• He took a final step and crouched down only inches from touching her.• Isabel froze, staring into those glittering eyes only inches from her own.• She gulped for breath, her eyes only inches from his.• He clenched his fist and held it only inches from her face, the muscles of his arm quivering with tension.• He moved the crib to his side of the bed and slept every night only inches from June Lee.• An old Adler typewriter crashed against the wall only inches from Cally's head.• His lips were only inches from hers when Rosa's tap at the door made him lift his dark head.inch2 verb [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition]  SLOWto move very slowly in a particular direction, or to make something do this (使)缓慢移动 I inched forward along the ground. 我贴着地面缓慢向前挪动。→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

inch• We watched the cat inching along the ground, not taking its eyes off the bird for a second.• The car inched forward into the narrow parking space.• I was inching forward now, and nothing was going to stop me.• Masklin looked up as the trolley inched forward.• One of the pods was inching its way out into space.• I inched my way across the crowded room to where Lou was standing.• The roar of the water coming down the gully drummed at my ears as I inched the Toyota into the bend.• She inched towards him, daring him to move before she had shaken off the latest man to accost her.• As the number of voters backing Alexander has inched upward, so too has the number of those who view him favorably.From Longman Business Dictionaryinchinch /ɪntʃ/ noun [countable] a unit for measuring length, equal to 2.54 centimetresOrigin inch1 (1000-1100) Latin uncia “one twelfth”

inch1 nouninch2 verbChinese  

unit measuring Corpus equal centimetres. length, to Business 2.54 There a for

inch

I

inch¹ S2 W3 /ɪntʃ/ noun [countable]1. (written abbreviation in) a unit for measuring length, equal to 2.54 centimetres. There are 12 inches in a foot:
    The curtains were an inch too short.
    Rainfall here is under 15 inches a year.
    a one-/two-/three- etc inch something
    a six-inch nail
2. a very small distance:
    Derek leaned closer, his face only inches from hers.
    The bus missed us by inches.
    On several occasions, they came within inches of death.
3. every inch
  a. completely or in every way:
    With her designer clothes and elegant hair, she looks every inch the celebrity.
  b. the whole of an area or distance
    every inch of
    Every inch of space in the tiny shop was crammed with goods.
    Italy deserved to win, though Greece made them fight every inch of the way.
4. give somebody an inch and they’ll take a yard/mile used to say that, if you allow someone a little freedom or power, they will try to take more
5. inch by inch moving very gradually and slowly:
    Inch by inch, he lowered himself from the roof.
6. not give/budge an inch to refuse to change your decision or opinion, even though people are trying to persuade you to do this:
    Neither side is prepared to give an inch in the negotiations.
7. beat/thrash etc somebody to within an inch of their life to beat someone very hard and thoroughly:
    Another word out of you and I’ll beat you to within an inch of your life.

II

inch² verb [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition]
to move very slowly in a particular direction, or to make something do this:
    I inched forward along the ground.