written abbreviation in a unit for measuring length, equal to 2.54 centimetres. There are 12 inches in a foot.

英寸〔长度单位，等于 2.54 厘米。 1 英尺有 12 英寸〕:

The curtains were an inch too short.

窗帘短了一英寸。

Rainfall here is under 15 inches a year.

该地区的年降雨量不到 15 英寸。

a six inch nail

6 英寸长的钉子

a very small distance

很短的距离:

Derek leaned closer, his face only inches from hers.

德里克靠得更近了，他的脸和她的近在咫尺。

The bus missed us by inches .

公共汽车差一点就撞着我们了。

On several occasions they came within inches of death.

有几次他们都险些丧命。

every inch

give sb an inch and they'll take a yard / mile, used to say that if you allow someone a little freedom or power, they will try to take more

某人会得寸进尺

inch by inch, moving very gradually and slowly

〔移动〕一点一点地，缓慢地:

Inch by inch, he lowered himself from the roof.

他慢慢地从屋顶上下来。

not give / budge an inch, to refuse to change your decision or opinion, even though people are trying to persuade you to do this

寸步不让:

Neither side is prepared to give an inch in the negotiations.

谈判中双方都无意作丝毫让步。

beat / thrash etc sb to within an inch of their life, to beat someone very hard and thoroughly

痛打某人，狠揍某人:

Another word out of you and I'll beat you to within an inch of your life.

你再说一句话，我就狠狠地揍你一顿。

to move very slowly in a particular direction, or to make something do this

（使）缓慢移动:

I inched forward along the ground.

我蹭着地面缓慢向前挪动。