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

O’Brien had to go for an X-ray and a CT scan, which revealed a two-centimeter shard of glass in her stomach. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025

Measure using a ruler — or even the short side of a credit card — to make sure that dense foods like stuffing and sweet potatoes reach a depth of no more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) to allow for quick and complete cooling in the refrigerator. —Jonel Aleccia, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2025

And Daniel’s just been so brilliant and trusting in this and kind of explorative that a 15 centimeter puppet can portray one of the most crucial moments of the entire show. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 25 Nov. 2025

Biggs and her collaborators had also recorded white puffy clouds at its summit, and the ground at the volcano had risen a few centimeters. —Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 24 Nov. 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