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What is the difference between length and inch?

length | inch |

In context|figuratively|lang=en terms the difference between length and inch

is that length is (figuratively): total extent while inch is (figuratively) a very short distance.

As nouns the difference between length and inch

is that length is the measurement of distance along the longest dimension of an object while inch is a unit of length equal to one-twelfth of a foot and equivalent to exactly 254 centimetres or inch can be (scotland) a small island.

As verbs the difference between length and inch

is that length is (obsolete) to lengthen while inch is (followed by a preposition) to move very slowly (in a particular direction).

length

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The distance measured along the longest dimension of an object.
  • duration
  • * Robert Frost
  • Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length .
  • (horse racing) The length of a horse, used to indicate the distance between horses at the end of a race.
  • (mathematics) Distance between the two ends of a line segment.
  • (cricket) The distance down the pitch that the ball bounces on its way to the batsman.
  • (figuratively) Total extent.
  • the length of a book
  • Part of something that is long; a physical piece of something.
  • a length of rope

    Derived terms

    * arm's length * at length * cable length * feature-length * floor-length * focal length * full-length * good length * go to great lengths * half-length * knee-length * lengthen * lengthful * length overall * lengthways * lengthwise * lengthy * line and length * null patch length * overlength * path length * screening length * short of a length * wavelength * zero-length launching

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To lengthen.
  • * 1599 , , XIV. 30:
  • Pack night, peep day; good day, of night now borrow: / Short night, to-night, and length thyself to-morrow.

    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).