Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - inch

~1 n 1 a unit for measuring length, equal to 2.54 centimetres 2 a very small distance  (A bullet thudded into the wall only inches from where I was standing. | The bus missed our car by inches. (=almost hit it)) 3 enough rain or snow to cover an area an inch deep  (Over five inches of rain has fallen in the last week.) 4 every inch a) completely or in every way  (He looked every inch a gentleman.) b) the whole of an area + of  (They're determined to defend every inch of their territory.) 5 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'll try to take a lot more 6 inch by inch moving very gradually and slowly  (Inch by inch the soldiers were driven back.) 7 not give/budge an inch to refuse to change your opinion even slightly about something in spite of attempts to persuade you  (Neither side is prepared to give an inch in the negotiations.) 8 beat/thrash sb within an inch of their life to hit someone so hard and so many times that you almost kill them ~2 v I always + adv prep) to move very slowly in a particular direction, or make something do this + along/towards/around etc  (I started inching forward along the ledge towards the open window.) inch sth along/towards etc  (He slowly inched the box forward, unable to lift it.)