by inches

inch

B b

Definitions of by inches words

noun by inches a unit of length, 1/12 (0.0833) foot, equivalent to 2.54 centimeters. 1
noun by inches a very small amount of anything; narrow margin: to win by an inch; to avert disaster by an inch. 1
idioms by inches by inches, narrowly; by a narrow margin: escaped by inches. Also, inch by inch. by small degrees or stages; gradually: The miners worked their way through the narrow shaft inch by inch. 1
idioms by inches every inch, in every respect; completely: That horse is every inch a thoroughbred. 1
idioms by inches within an inch of, nearly; close to: He came within an inch of getting killed in the crash. 1

before 1000

One of the 6% oldest English words

before 1000; Middle English; Old English ynce < Latin uncia twelfth part, inch, ounce. See ounce1

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adjective

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preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

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