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.
Inch stuff,
boards, etc., sawed one inch
thick.
Inch , v. i. To advance or retire by inches or small degrees; to move slowly.
With slow paces measures back the field,
And inches to the walls.
Dryden.
Inch (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inched (?); p. pr. &
vb. n. Inching.]
1. To drive by inches, or small degrees. [R.]
He gets too far into
the soldier's grace
And
inches out my master.
Dryden.
2. To deal out by
inches; to give sparingly.
[R.]
Inch , n. [OE.
inche, unche, AS. ynce, L. uncia the twelfth part, inch, ounce. See Ounce a weight.]
1. A measure of
length, the twelfth part of a foot, commonly subdivided into halves, quarters, eights, sixteenths, etc., as among mechanics. It was also formerly divided into twelve parts, called
lines, and originally into three parts, called barleycorns, its length supposed to have been
determined from three grains of barley placed end to end
lengthwise. It is also sometimes called a prime (′), composed of twelve seconds (′′), as in the duodecimal system of arithmetic.
12 seconds (′′) make 1 inch or prime. 12 inches or primes
(′) make 1 foot.
B.
Greenleaf. &fist; The
meter, the accepted scientific standard of length, equals 39.37 inches; the inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters. See Metric system, and Meter.
2. A small distance or degree, whether of time or space; hence, a critical moment.
Beldame, I think we
watched you at an inch.
Shak. By inches, by slow degrees, gradually. -- Inch of candle. See under Candle. -- Inches of
pressure, usually, the pressure indicated by so many inches of a mercury
column, as on a steam gauge. -- Inch of water. See under Water. -- Miner's inch, (Hydraulic Mining),
a unit for the measurement of water. See Inch of water, under Water.
Inch (?), n. [Gael. inis.]
An island; -- often used in the names of
small islands off the coast of
Scotland, as in Inchcolm, Inchkeith,
etc. [Scot.]
Hear it pronounced