centimeter
gb/sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/ us/sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
A2
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
Nom
A2
quantity
1
metric unit of length
A metric unit for small lengths; 1 cm = 0.01 meter.
Schéma d’usage :
[number] centimeter(s)
Erreur fréquente :
Don’t confuse centimeter (cm) with millimeter (mm): 1 cm = 10 mm. In British English the usual spelling is centimetre.
Synonymes
centimetre (Standard spelling in British English.)
|
cm (Common written abbreviation.)
Collocations
one centimeter
|a few centimeters
|centimeters long
|centimeters wide
|centimeter mark
|centimeter scale
|centimeter ruler
|in centimeter increments
|measure in centimeters
|about 5 centimeters
Thèmes
measurement
|math
|science
|daily_life
Exemples
- The scar is about three centimeters long.
- Set the hem so it’s two centimeters shorter.
- The baby grew five centimeters in three months.
Exemples pédagogiques
- My pencil is 15 centimeters long.
- The box is 20 centimeters wide.
Nom
B1
quantity
2
tiny distance or amount
A way to say “even a tiny amount,” often with not.
Schéma d’usage :
not [verb] a centimeter
Erreur fréquente :
This is usually used with negatives for emphasis (e.g., “didn’t move a centimeter”), not to describe normal measurement.
Synonymes
inch (More common in similar idioms in American English.)
Antonymes
mile (In phrases like “by a mile,” meaning by a large amount.)
Collocations
not move a centimeter
|not budge a centimeter
|not shift a centimeter
|not give an inch (or a centimeter)
|within a centimeter
|miss by a centimeter
|every centimeter counts
|move a centimeter at a time
Thèmes
measurement
|emphasis
|daily_life
Exemples
- I didn’t move a centimeter during the photo.
- The negotiations didn’t progress a centimeter.
- The car missed the wall by a centimeter.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He didn’t budge a centimeter.
- The lid won’t move a centimeter.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
centimeter
API
GB/sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
US/sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
Syllabes et accentuation
cen - ti - meter (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (cen)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: centimeter
- Plural: centimeters
Famille de mots
Forms
centimeters
noun
Related words
centimetre
noun A2
Expressions
centimeter by centimeter
1/sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ bˈaɪ sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
fixed phrase
very slowly and gradually
Very slowly, in tiny steps.
Exemples
- We inched forward centimeter by centimeter through the traffic.
- The climber pulled herself up centimeter by centimeter.
- The rescue team widened the gap centimeter by centimeter.
cm
1/km/
fixed phrase
abbreviation for centimeter(s)
“cm” means “centimeter(s).”
Exemples
- The screen is 35 cm wide.
- Cut a strip of paper 10 cm long.
- The label says “Length: 50 cm.”
cubic centimeter
1/kjˈubɪk sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
unit of volume
A measure of volume: 1 cm³ (one milliliter).
Exemples
- The syringe can hold ten cubic centimeters of liquid.
- The engine has a displacement of 500 cubic centimeters.
- Add 2 cubic centimeters of the solution.
every square centimeter
1/ˈɛvɹi skwˈɛɹ sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
fixed phrase
every part of a surface
All of the surface; no part is left out.
Exemples
- Every square centimeter of the wall was covered in posters.
- They searched every square centimeter of the apartment.
- The tiny studio uses every square centimeter of space.
not budge a centimeter
1/nˈɑt bˈʌd͡ʒ ə sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
idiom
not move or change at all
To not move at all, or not change your mind.
Exemples
- I tried to push the door, but it didn’t budge a centimeter.
- She wouldn’t budge a centimeter on the deadline.
- The company didn’t budge a centimeter during the negotiations.
square centimeter
1/skwˈɛɹ sˈɛntɪmˌitɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
unit of area
A measure of area: 1 cm².
Exemples
- The stamp covers about six square centimeters.
- This cream should be applied at 2 mg per square centimeter.
- The wound was less than one square centimeter.