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

Yu said comparable systems using rigid sensors typically produce errors of around 1 to 2 centimeters. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Along the back wall, Neanderthals kept a row of small hearths, around 50 centimeters across and spaced a meter or so apart, with almost no debris around them. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026

The signature of an electron neutrino is a 4-inch (10-centimeter) blob of light, while the signature of a muon neutrino is a meters-long track of light. — Doug Cowen, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026

Fireballs appear when chunks of asteroids or comets ranging from a few centimeters to multiple meters in size — known as meteoroids — strike Earth's atmosphere while travelling at tens of thousands of miles per hour. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing centimeter

• centimeter-gram-second

Rhymes for centimeter

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

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