What does centimetric mean?
Centimetric is a technical adjective relating to the centimetre, a unit of length equal to one hundredth of a metre. It is used when a measurement, scale, instrument, or system specifically involves hundredths of a metre rather than the metre as a whole. For example, a centimetric scale has divisions based on centimetres or smaller units, while centimetric measurements are often converted for communication with audiences using other measurement systems. The word is uncommon in everyday speech but useful in scientific, engineering, cartographic, and historical contexts where the distinction between millimetres, centimetres, and metres matters. Its main relatives are centimetre in British English and centimeter in American English. The form centimetrically serves as the corresponding adverb, although it is encountered much less often than its use in technical descriptions of instruments and scales.
adjectiveRelating to or expressed in hundredths of a metre; centimetric.
- Relating to the centimetre or to measurements based on hundredths of a metre.
"The engineer used a centimetric scale to calibrate the instrument."
"The laboratory recorded the specimen's dimensions using a centimetric scale."
"The report converted the centimetric measurements into inches for an international audience."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does centimetric come from?
Centimetric was formed in English from the combining form centi-, meaning one hundredth, and metric, meaning relating to measurement. The prefix centi- comes from Latin centum, “hundred,” while metric ultimately derives from Greek metron, “measure.” The resulting adjective specializes the broader idea of measurement by explicitly identifying it with hundredths of a metre.
Related word forms
How centimetric is actually used
A relatively uncommon technical and scientific term. It is more precise than the broader term metric when the hundredth-of-a-metre unit is specifically relevant.
Easily confused with centimetric
Centimetric is an adjective relating to hundredths of a metre, whereas centimetre is the noun naming that unit of length.