n (1)(英)寸(measure of length equal to 2.54cm or 1/12 of a foot)[C](abbr in)：He is three～es taller than me. 他比我高三英寸。 two～es of rain/snow 两英寸的降雨/雪量;defend every～of one's motherland保卫祖国的每一寸土地;

(2)少许，一点儿(small amount)[C]：escape death by an～差一点儿送命;not give/budge an～毫不让步，丝毫不改变主意;do not yield an～寸步不让;be within an～of breaking the record 差一点儿打破纪录;He was beaten within an～of his life. 他差一点儿被打死。give sb an～and he'll take a mile/yard (prov) 得寸进尺;

by inches 1)差一点儿：The car missed the old lady by～es. 那辆汽车差点撞上那位老太太。 2)一点点地：The river was rising by～es.河水一点一点地上涨。

every inch 1)彻底地：Great crowds thronged every～of the road. 大群的人把道路挤得水泄不通。2)完全地：look every～a gentleman/lady/soldier看起来像地道的绅士/淑女/士兵;

inch by inch 缓慢地，一点一点地：climb the mountain～by～一点一点地爬上高山;

v 缓慢地移动(move by inches or very slowly)[I，I+prep，I+adv，T+n+prep，T+n+adv]～along/forward/down/in/out 缓慢地前进/前进/下降/进来/出去;～(one's way) across the high roof/along the slippery ridge/through the narrow space between cars/up the snow-clad peak 慢慢地走过高屋顶/在滑溜溜的山脊上缓慢前进/从汽车之间的狭缝中慢慢挤过去/一步一步地攀登积雪的山峰