centimeter
noun
cen·ti·me·ter
ˈsen-tə-ˌmē-tər 
ˈsän-
ˈsän-
: 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
The bodies would have been exposed to open air at first, as the ash cloud would have deposited only a few centimeters of ash on the ground.
—
Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2025
Non-pregnant women with a waist size greater than 35 inches (88.9 centimeters) and men with a waist greater than 40 inches (101.6 centimeters) are at higher risk from visceral fat, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025
The length of the anal canal typically ranges from 2.5 to 4 centimeters.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 20 Feb. 2025
Of the group, 11 male frogs — each measuring under 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) — carried 33 tadpoles that were born at the zoo.
—Sylvia Hui, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for centimeter
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Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2025
Non-pregnant women with a waist size greater than 35 inches (88.9 centimeters) and men with a waist greater than 40 inches (101.6 centimeters) are at higher risk from visceral fat, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025
The length of the anal canal typically ranges from 2.5 to 4 centimeters.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 20 Feb. 2025
Of the group, 11 male frogs — each measuring under 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) — carried 33 tadpoles that were born at the zoo.
—Sylvia Hui, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for centimeter
Cite this Entry
“Centimeter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centimeter. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
centimeter
noun
cen·ti·me·ter
ˈsent-ə-ˌmēt-ər
ˈsänt-
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
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