centimetre

What it means

1. metrologyAn SI unit of length equal to 10⁻² metres. Symbol: cm

   Meronyms: picometre < nanometre < micrometre < millimetre

   2 more examples

   Holonyms: decimetre < metre < kilometre < megametre < gigametre < terametre < petametre

   It is not permissible to use abbreviations for unit symbols or unit names, such as sec (for either s or second), sq. mm (for either mm² or square millimetre), cc (for either cm³ or cubic centimetre), or mps (for either m/s or metre per second).

   2025 August 28, “The International System of Units (SI)”, in Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, archived from the original on 17 Sep 2025, page 147

   Synonyms: cm, ㎝

In a sentence

Holonyms: decimetre < metre < kilometre < megametre < gigametre < terametre < petametre

Where it comes from

1. Frenchcentimètre
2. Englishcentimetre

Borrowed from French centimètre; equivalent to centi- + metre.