What is "centi-"

word-forming element meaning "one hundred" or "one hundredth part," used in English from c.1800, from the French metric system, from Latin centi-, comb. form of centum "one hundred" (see hundred).

pre. 1 hundred; one-hundredth 2 In the International System of Units and other metric systems of units, multiplying the unit to which it is attached by 10^-2. Symbol: c

Centi- (symbol c) is a unit prefix in the metric system denoting a factor of one hundredth. Proposed in 1793 and adopted in 1795, the prefix comes from the Latin , meaning "hundred". Since 1960, the prefix is part of the International System of Units (SI). It is mainly used in combination with metre to form centimetre, a common unit of length.

Example:

• A honey bee is about 1.3 centimetres long.