centimeter

noun

cen·​ti·​me·​ter ˈsen-tə-ˌmē-tər  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

At the time, Brie's mother Kendra told their 654,000 Instagram followers that doctors found an 8-centimeter tumor in Brie's abdomen in addition to the cancer that had spread elsewhere in her back. —Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 13 Dec. 2025

Then an X-ray revealed a nine-centimeter mass in her chest and a CT scan followed. —Erin Jones, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025

El-Sisi is a short man, 166 [centimeters, about 5′ 4″]. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Dec. 2025

Put the tip of your finger at least a centimeter deep or more in the soil. —Lauren David, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing centimeter

• centimeter-gram-second

Rhymes for centimeter

• amphitheater
• centimetre
• decimeter
• ergometer
• expositor
• gasometer
• gravimeter
• hexameter
• manometer
• milliliter
• millimeter
• millimetre

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

ˈsent-ə-ˌmēt-ər  ˈsänt- 

: a unit of length equal to ¹/₁₀₀ meter