centimetre
gb/sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/ us/sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
A2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
quantity
1
Metric unit of length
A centimetre is a metric unit for measuring length. 100 centimetres = 1 metre.
Usage pattern:
[number] centimetre(s); in measurements: [something] is [number] centimetres long/wide/deep
Common mistake:
In American English the spelling is centimeter. The abbreviation is cm (no plural *cms* in formal writing).
Synonyms
centimeter (American English spelling.)
|
cm (Standard abbreviation used in measurements.)
Collocations
a few centimetres
|two centimetres
|centimetres long
|centimetres wide
|centimetres deep
|centimetre ruler
|centimetre mark
|centimetre scale
|square centimetre
|cubic centimetre
Themes
measurements
|maths
|daily_life
|science
Examples
- The scratch is about two centimetres long.
- Add five centimetres to the bottom of the skirt.
- The snow was only a few centimetres deep.
Learner examples
- The box is 10 centimetres wide.
- A ruler shows centimetres and millimetres.
Grammar
Dictionary form
centimetre
IPA
GB/sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
US/sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
Syllables & stress
cen - ti - metre (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cen)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: centimetre
- Plural: centimetres
Word family
Expressions
a centimetre or two
1/ə sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ ˈɔɹ tˈu/
fixed phrase
A very small amount
A little bit (about 1–2 cm).
Examples
- Move the picture a centimetre or two to the left.
- She cut a centimetre or two off the ends of her hair.
centimetre by centimetre
1/sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ bˈaɪ sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
fixed phrase
Very slowly and carefully
Very slowly, a little at a time.
Examples
- They pushed the sofa through the doorway centimetre by centimetre.
- The rescue team advanced centimetre by centimetre across the ice.
cubic centimetre
1/kjˈubɪk sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Unit of volume
A cubic centimetre (cm³) measures volume.
Examples
- The bottle holds 250 cubic centimetres of liquid.
- The engine has a capacity of 125 cubic centimetres.
square centimetre
1/skwˈɛɹ sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Unit of area
A square centimetre (cm²) measures area.
Examples
- The stain covered about three square centimetres.
- The dosage is measured in milligrams per square centimetre.
within a centimetre of
1/wɪðˈɪn ə sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ əv/
fixed phrase
Extremely close to
Very, very close to something.
Examples
- The ball landed within a centimetre of the line.
- He stopped the car within a centimetre of the bumper.