Definition
Centimetre
A centimetre is a metric unit of length equal to one hundredth of a metre.
Continue from this idea into connected AXIO math.
What it means
Centimetres are useful for lengths smaller than a metre, such as a pencil or book. Write the number and the unit together: 15 cm.
Remember it
One metre is a row of 100 centimetres.
Example
A card is 8 cm wide and 13 cm long. The longer side is 13 cm, which is 5 cm longer than the width.
Watch for
cm measures length. cm² measures area, and cm³ measures volume.
Common mix-up
The symbol stays cm even for more than one centimetre; never write cms.
Exact meaning
A centimetre, written cm, is a unit of length. One centimetre equals 10 millimetres, and 100 centimetres equal 1 metre.