Name of several nonmetric units of length. |
An inch is any of several relatively short nonmetric? units of length. |
Historically, the inch has referred to several slightly different units of length, used in different parts of the world. Today there are two units called the 'inch' still in use, the international inch and the U.S. survey inch, both being largely confined to the United States. Other countries, which previously had their own separate definitions of the inch, have converted to using the metric system instead. When which inch being referred to is not specified, it almost always means the international inch. |
Historically, the inch has referred to several slightly different units of length, used in different parts of the world. Today there are two units called the "inch" still in use, the international inch and the U.S. survey inch, both being largely confined to the United States. Other countries, which previously had their own separate definitions of the inch, have converted to using the metric system instead. When the inch being referred to is not specified, it almost always means the international inch. |
The international inch is defined as exactly 25.4 mm. This definition was agreed upon by the U.S. and the British Commonwealth in 1958. Prior to that, the U.S. and Canada each had its own, slightly different definition of the inch in terms of metric units, while the U.K. and other Commonwealth countries defined the inch in terms of the [Imperial Standard Yard]?. The definition adopted was the Canadian definition. |
The international inch is defined as exactly 25.4 mm. This definition was agreed upon by the U.S. and the British Commonwealth in 1958. Prior to that, the U.S. and Canada each had their own, slightly different definition of the inch in terms of metric units, while the U.K. and other Commonwealth countries defined the inch in terms of the [Imperial Standard Yard]?. The definition adopted was the Canadian definition. |