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Inch vs Tickle - What's the difference?

inch | tickle |

As nouns the difference between inch and tickle

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 tickle is the act of tickling.

As verbs the difference between inch and tickle

is that inch is (followed by a preposition) to advance very slowly, or by a small amount (in a particular direction) while tickle is to touch repeatedly or stroke delicately in a manner which causes the recipient to feel a usually pleasant sensation of tingling or titillation.

As an adjective tickle is

changeable, capricious; insecure.

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).

    tickle

    English

    (tickling)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of tickling.
  • A feeling resembling the result of tickling.
  • I have a persistent tickle in my throat.
  • (Newfoundland) A narrow strait.
  • * 2004 , (Richard Fortey), The Earth , Folio Society 2011, p. 169:
  • Cow Head itself is a prominent headland connected to the settlement by a natural causeway, or ‘tickle ’ as the Newfoundlanders prefer it.

    Verb

    (tickl)
  • To touch repeatedly or stroke delicately in a manner which causes the recipient to feel a usually pleasant sensation of tingling or titillation.
  • He tickled Nancy's tummy, and she started to giggle.
  • * Shakespeare
  • If you tickle us, do we not laugh?
  • (of a body part) To feel as if the body part in question is being tickled.
  • My nose tickles , and I'm going to sneeze!
  • To appeal to someone's taste, curiosity etc.
  • To cause delight or amusement in.
  • He was tickled to receive such a wonderful gift.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Such a nature / Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow / Which he treads on at noon.
  • To feel titillation.
  • * Spenser
  • He with secret joy therefore / Did tickle inwardly in every vein.

    Derived terms

    (terms derived from the verb "tickle") * tickle someone's fancy * tickle the dragon's tail * tickle the ivories * tickle pink * tickler * ticklish * tickly

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Changeable, capricious; insecure.
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.4:
  • So ticle be the termes of mortall state, / And full of subtile sophismes, which do play / With double senses, and with false debate [...].

    Anagrams

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