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Inch vs Curtain - What's the difference?

inch | curtain |

As nouns the difference between inch and curtain

is that inch is a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot, or exactly 254 centimetres or inch can be (scotland) a small island while curtain is a piece of cloth covering a window, bed, etc to offer privacy and keep out light.

As verbs the difference between inch and curtain

is that inch is (followed by a preposition) to advance very slowly, or by a small amount (in a particular direction) while curtain is to cover (a window) with a curtain; to hang curtains.

inch

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (ang) ynce, from (etyl) . Compare ounce.

Noun

(es)
  • A unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot, or exactly 2.54 centimetres.
  • (meteorology) The amount of water which would cover a surface to the depth of an inch, used as a measurement of rainfall.
  • The amount of an alcoholic beverage which would fill a glass or bottle to the depth of an inch.
  • (figuratively) A very short distance.
  • "Don't move an inch !"
  • * Shakespeare
  • Beldame, I think we watched you at an inch .
    Derived terms
    * every inch * * inch-perfect

    Verb

    (es)
  • (followed by a preposition) To advance very slowly, or by a small amount (in a particular direction).
  • Fearful of falling, he inched along the window ledge.
  • * 1957 , :
  • *:The window blind had been lowered — Zooey had done all his bathtub reading by the light from the three-bulb overhead fixture—but a fraction of morning light inched under the blind and onto the title page of the manuscript.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=May 9 , author=John Percy , title=Birmingham City 2 Blackpool 2 (2-3 on agg): match report , work=the Telegraph citation , page= , passage=Already guarding a 1-0 lead from the first leg, Blackpool inched further ahead when Stephen Dobbie scored from an acute angle on the stroke of half-time. The game appeared to be completely beyond Birmingham’s reach three minutes into the second period when Matt Phillips reacted quickly to bundle the ball past Colin Doyle and off a post.}}
  • To drive by inches, or small degrees.
  • * Dryden
  • He gets too far into the soldier's grace / And inches out my master.
  • To deal out by inches; to give sparingly.
  • Derived terms
    * inch along * inch forward * inch up * inchworm

    See also

    * thou * mil

    Etymology 2

    From Gaelic (innis)

    Noun

    (es)
  • (Scotland) A small island
  • * Sir Walter Scott, Rosabelle
  • The blackening wave is edged with white; / To inch and rock the sea-mews fly.

    Usage notes

    * Found especially in the names of small Scottish islands, e.g. (Inchcolm), (Inchkeith).

    curtain

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A piece of cloth covering a window, bed, etc. to offer privacy and keep out light.
  • *
  • Thus the red damask curtains which now shut out the fog-laden, drizzling atmosphere of the Marylebone Road, had cost a mere song, and yet they might have been warranted to last another thirty years. A great bargain also had been the excellent Axminster carpet which covered the floor; as, again, the arm-chair in which Bunting now sat forward, staring into the dull, small fire.
  • A similar piece of cloth that separates the audience and the stage in a theater.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
  • , title= , chapter=2 citation , passage=“H'm !” he said, “so, so—it is a tragedy in a prologue and three acts. I am going down this afternoon to see the curtain fall for the third time on what
  • (label) The flat area of wall which connects two bastions or towers; the main area of a fortified wall.
  • * , Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.220:
  • Captain Rense'', beleagring the Citie of ''Errona for us,.
  • Death.
  • * 1979 , (Monty Python), (Always Look on the Bright Side of Life)
  • For life is quite absurd / And death's the final word / You must always face the curtain with a bow.
  • (label) That part of a wall of a building which is between two pavilions, towers, etc.
  • A flag; an ensign.
  • (Shakespeare)

    Derived terms

    * curtain call * curtain-raise * curtain-raiser * final curtain

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cover (a window) with a curtain; to hang curtains.
  • See also

    * blind * drape * (wikipedia "curtain")