Inching

[inch] /ɪntʃ/

noun
1.
a unit of length, 1/12 (0.0833) foot, equivalent to 2.54 centimeters.
2.
a very small amount of anything; narrow margin:
to win by an inch; to avert disaster by an inch.
verb (used with or without object)
3.
to move by inches or small degrees:
We inched our way along the road.
Idioms
4.
by inches,

5.
every inch, in every respect; completely:
That horse is every inch a thoroughbred.
6.
within an inch of, nearly; close to:
He came within an inch of getting killed in the crash.
/ɪntʃ/
noun
1.
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot or 0.0254 metre
2.
(meteorol)

3.
a very small distance, degree, or amount
4.
every inch, in every way; completely: he was every inch an aristocrat
5.
inch by inch, gradually; little by little
6.
within an inch of, very close to
verb
7.
to move or be moved very slowly or in very small steps: the car inched forward
8.
(transitive) foll by out. to defeat (someone) by a very small margin
/ɪntʃ/
noun
1.
(Scot & Irish) a small island
n.

“linear measure, one-twelfth of a foot,” late Old English ynce, Middle English unche (current spelling c.1300), from Latin uncia “a twelfth part,” from root of unus “one” (see one). An early borrowing from Latin, not found in any other Germanic language. Transferred and figurative sense of “a very small amount” is attested from mid-14c. For phrase give him an inch … see ell.

“small Scottish island,” early 15c., from Gaelic innis (genitive innse) “island, land by a river,” from Celtic *inissi (cf. Old Irish inis, Welsh ynys, Breton enez).
v.

“move little by little,” 1590s, from inch (n.1). Related: Inched; inching.
inch
(ĭnch)
A unit of length in the US Customary System equal to 1/12 of a foot (2.54 centimeters). See Table at measurement.