centimetro

Centimetro, plural centimetri, is a unit of length in the metric system equal to one hundredth of a metre. Its symbol is cm; 1 cm = 0.01 m; 1 m = 100 cm; 1 cm = 10 millimetres. In Italian, the term is centimetro; in English the standard names are centimeter or centimetre.

The name derives from the prefix centi- meaning hundred (from Latin centum) and metre, and the symbol cm is written in lowercase.

The metre was defined in the late 18th century as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian. The centimetro arose with the decimal metric system to express smaller lengths in relation to the metre. In 1983 the metre was defined by the speed of light, but the relation 1 cm = 0.01 m remains exact.

In the International System of Units (SI), the centimetro is not an SI base unit but is accepted for use with the SI as a derived unit.

Centimetri are commonly used for everyday measurements such as body height, clothing sizes, and small objects. In science and engineering, millimetres or metres are often preferred for higher precision. Conversions: 1 inch equals 2.54 cm; 1 m equals 100 cm; 1 km equals 100,000 cm.