Centimetra

Centimetra is a unit of length equal to one hundredth of a meter. It is widely used in the metric system and is usually written as centimetre or centimeter, with the symbol cm. In the International System of Units (SI), the centimetre is a derived unit accepted for use with SI; the base unit is the meter.

One centimetre equals 10 millimetres and 0.01 metres. It is commonly employed to measure small lengths in everyday life and in many scientific and technical contexts, such as electronics, biology, and manufacturing. For longer distances, metres are typically used, while inches or feet may be used in some countries for everyday measurements.

Origin and naming: the prefix centi- derives from Latin centum meaning hundred, and metra from Greek metron meaning measure. The metric system arose in late 18th‑century France, and the centimetre was standardized as part of the system in the 19th century. Spelling varies by language: centimetre in British English and many other languages, centimeter in American English. The form centimetra can appear as a direct translation variant in some languages.