inch

/ɪntʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪntʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈinch/ (ame, mw)

inch — noun

1. a standard unit of length in the imperial system; one inch equals 2.54 centimetr

1.名詞A2
釋義

a standard unit of length in the imperial system; one inch equals 2.54 centimetres, and twelve inches make one foot

例句

The fish Lakshmi caught was about 14 inches long.

You need a 6-inch knife to cut through this thick rope.

hyphenated compound: number-inch + noun

文法句型

number + inch(es) + adjective (long/wide/deep)

inch(es) of + noun

hyphenated compound: number-inch + noun

常見錯誤

❌The door is 30 inch wide.
✅The door is 30 inches wide.
💡When no hyphen is used before a noun, 'inch' takes the plural form 'inches' after numbers greater than one.
❌A 5-inches nail
✅A 5-inch nail.
💡In a hyphenated compound before a noun, the singular form 'inch' is always used.

2. a tiny quantity, distance, or level of something

2.名詞B1
釋義

a tiny quantity, distance, or level of something

例句

The negotiations have not moved an inch since last week.

negative construction: not + verb + an inch

Antonia was every inch a professional musician from the moment she stepped on stage.

idiom: every inch (completely)

同義詞
  • bit

    more general; 'bit' can refer to any small amount, while 'inch' emphasises small distance or degree

  • touch

    suggests a very slight amount, often used with abstract nouns ('a touch of humour')

  • trace

    an amount so small it is barely noticeable, often implying the last remaining evidence of something

反義詞
  • mile

    used contrastively in the idiom 'give an inch and they'll take a mile' to show the difference between a small concession and excessive demands

文法句型

not + verb + an inch

every inch + noun phrase

inch of + uncountable noun

within an inch of + noun

用法筆記

Frequently appears in negative constructions ('not budge an inch', 'not trust an inch') and fixed idioms. The positive form 'an inch of' is usually found in questions, conditionals, or proverbs rather than in plain affirmative statements.

常見錯誤

❌The cat moved an inch closer.' (using sense 2 for literal positive distance).
✅The cat did not budge an inch when I called.
💡For literal positive distance, use sense 1 instead of this figurative sense.

inch — verb