centimeter

noun

cen·​ti·​me·​ter ˈsen-tə-ˌmē-tər How to pronounce centimeter (audio) ˈsän- How to pronounce centimeter (audio)
: a unit of length equal to ¹/₁₀₀ meter see Metric System Table

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In the metric system, which is used in most countries of the world, each basic unit of measure of length, area, or volume can be divided into centimeters. A meter consists of 100 centimeters, a square meter consists of 10,000 square centimeters, and a cubic meter consists of 1,000,000 cubic centimeters.

Examples of centimeter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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These conditions force members of the species — measuring up to 3.5 inches (9 centimeters) — to move surprisingly quickly to deeper waters. Katie Hunt, CNN, 1 Feb. 2025 The team started to experiment with its strength, shooting fibers to capture and lift objects including a cocoon, a 2-gram stainless-steel bolt and a 5-gram wood block from 12 centimeters away. Sophie Charara, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2025 During this period, heavy snowfall is anticipated, with total accumulations ranging between 5 to 10 centimeters (about 2 to 4 inches). Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025 The vehicle, which stands 10 inches (26 centimeters) tall and weighs about 11 pounds (5 kilograms), is designed to disembark from the Resilience lander and explore the surrounding terrain. Jackie Wattles, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for centimeter 

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of centimeter was in 1794

Dictionary Entries Near centimeter

Cite this Entry

“Centimeter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centimeter. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

centimeter

noun
cen·​ti·​me·​ter ˈsent-ə-ˌmēt-ər How to pronounce centimeter (audio) ˈsänt- How to pronounce centimeter (audio)
: a unit of length equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀ meter see metric system

Medical Definition

centimeter

noun
cen·​ti·​me·​ter
variants or chiefly British centimetre
: a unit of length equal to ¹/₁₀₀ meter

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