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centimeter
noun
cen·ti·me·ter
ˈsen-tə-ˌmē-tər
ˈsän-
: a unit of length equal to ¹/₁₀₀ meter see Metric System Table
Did you know?
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
These conditions force members of the species — measuring up to 3.5 inches (9 centimeters) — to move surprisingly quickly to deeper waters.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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Jackie Wattles, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1794, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing centimeter
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
ˈsänt-
: 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
More from Merriam-Webster on centimeter
Nglish: Translation of centimeter for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of centimeter for Arabic Speakers
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