English · Word Candidate

inch

/ɪnt͡ʃ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: inches · inching · inched

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

An English unit of length equal to 1/12 of a foot or 2.54 cm.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

đơn vị đo lường Anh bằng 1/12 foot hoặc 2,54 cm

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

The sledges of the Esquimaux are of large size, varying from six and a half to nine and even eleven feet in length, and from eighteen inches to two feet in breadth.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Any very short distance.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

khoảng cách rất ngắn

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

Don't move an inch!

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To advance very slowly, or by a small amount (in a particular direction).

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Tiến rất chậm, hoặc một lượng nhỏ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

Fearful of falling, he inched along the window ledge.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To drive by inches, or small degrees.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Đi bằng inches, hoặc các mức độ nhỏ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

He gets too far into the soldier's grace / And inches out my master.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “inch” mean?

An English unit of length equal to 1/12 of a foot or 2.54 cm.

Is “inch” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.