- a unit of linear measure equal to one twelfth of a foot (2.54 cm)英寸（12分之1英尺, 2.54厘米）：
the toy train is four inches long
这个玩具火车有4英寸长
eighteen inches of thread.
18英寸长的线。
inches
informal a person's height or waist measurement〈非正式〉身高; 腰围：my only reservation is the goalkeeper's lack of inches.
我惟一的疑虑就是守门员的身高不够。
- often with negative a very small amount or distance（量, 距离）少许, 一点：
I had no intention of budging an inch.
我一点也不想让步。
- a unit used to express other quantities, in particular表示其他量的单位, 尤指：
- (as a unit of rainfall) a quantity that would cover a horizontal surface to a depth of one inch（降雨量单位）英寸（水平表面1英寸积水量）。
- （亦作inch of mercury）(as a unit of atmospheric pressure) an amount that would support a column of mercury one-inch high in a barometer (equal to 33.86 millibars, 29.5 inches being equal to one bar)（气压单位）英寸（气压计内1英寸水银柱, 等于33.86毫巴, 29.5吋等于1巴）。
- (as a unit of map scale) so many inches representing one mile on the ground（地图比例单位）表示地面为1英里的英寸数：
in combination one-inch maps of the east Midland counties.英格兰中部靠东各郡的1英寸比例图。
- move slowly and carefully in a specified direction慢慢移动：
inching along a motorway during the rush hour
高峰时段沿高速公路慢慢移动
figurative 〈喻〉Spain's conservatives are inching ahead.
西班牙保守派正慢慢前进。
- with obj. and adverbial of direction cause (something) to move in this manner使慢慢移动, 使渐进：
he inched the car forward.
他开车慢慢前行。
by inches
- only just差一点儿：
the shot missed her by inches.
子弹险些射中她。
- very slowly and gradually; bit by bit缓慢地; 一点一点地：
you can't let him die by inches like this.
你不能让他这样慢慢死去。
every inch
- the whole surface, distance, or area（表面、距离、地区的）每一寸, 全部：
between them they know every inch of the country.
他们之间了解这国家的全部。
- entirely; very much so完全, 彻底; 无疑, 正是：
he's every inch the gentleman.
他是个十足的绅士。
give someone an inch and he（或she）will take a mile
- proverb once concessions have been made to someone they will demand a great deal〈谚语〉得寸进尺。
inch by inch
- gradually; bit by bit渐渐地; 一点一点地：
inch by inch he crept along the wall.
他一点一点地沿着墙爬。
within an inch of
- very close to差点儿, 贴近：
her mouth was within an inch of his chin.
她的嘴差点碰到他的下巴。
(to) within an inch of one's life
- almost to the point of death差点儿丧命：
he was beaten within an inch of his life.
他差点儿被打死。