Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of inch
"The storm left two inches of snow covering the entire driveway."
In plain English: Inches are small units used to measure short distances, like how long your hand is.
"The garden hose is only three inches wide, so water sprays out in a thin stream."
Usage: Use "inches" to refer to multiple units of linear measurement or small distances when counting them as separate items. It functions strictly as the plural form of the singular noun "inch."
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of inch
"The car inches slowly forward as the driver waits for a gap in traffic."
In plain English: To inch means to move very slowly and carefully, usually by taking tiny steps.
"The sun inches slowly toward the horizon as evening approaches."
Usage: Do not use "inches" as a verb in everyday conversation; instead, use the base form "inch" or conjugate it correctly to "inches" only when describing what a third-person subject does, such as "The car inches forward." Using "inches" incorrectly implies a grammatical error rather than conveying the intended action of moving slowly.
Derived from Old English incum, inches originally referred to a small step taken by a person or animal, specifically the distance covered in one stride of an inch-long foot. The term evolved through Middle English to denote the specific unit of length equal to one-twelfth of a foot.