Meaning & use
centimeters
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“centimeters” is a form of “centimeter”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
Units of length equal to one hundredth of a meter, used for measuring small objects and distances.
Grammar: Plural form: ten centimeters; the singular is centimeter.
Patterns
- so many centimeters long
- measure something in centimeters
The table is about 75 centimeters high.
Cut the ribbon into pieces of fifteen centimeters each.
The baby grew three centimeters in one month.
Word forms
| singular | centimeter |
|---|
Common combinations
- measure in centimeters
- Please measure the box in centimeters.
- a few centimeters
- The shelf is a few centimeters too short.
- square centimeters
- The tile covers 100 square centimeters.
- cubic centimeters
- The syringe holds ten cubic centimeters.
- centimeters long
- The beetle was two centimeters long.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cm
- Cm is the written abbreviation used after numbers, not a separate word.
- centimetres
- Centimetres is the British spelling of the same unit.
- millimeters
- Millimeters are ten times smaller, so they suit tiny measurements.
Word family
- centimeter noun
- one unit of length
- meter noun
- the basic metric unit of length
- millimeter noun
- one thousandth of a meter
- kilometer noun
- one thousand meters
Commonly confused: centimeters or inches?
centimeters vs inches
Inches are a unit in the imperial system; one inch equals about 2.54 centimeters.
Practice
There are one hundred ___ in a meter.
Choose one answer.
A meter equals one hundred centimeters. A meter holds a thousand millimeters, and kilometers are far larger.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “centimeters”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.