inside

noun

• 1 [usually in singular] the inner side or surface of a thing:she ran a finger around the inside of the bowl
• the side of a bend or curve where the edge or surface is shorter:the inside of the bend
• the side of a racetrack nearer to the center, where the lanes are shorter:he was blocked on the inside at the furlong marker

• 2the inner part; the interior:the inside of the car was like an oven these boats are built of very thin cedar, with ribs on the inside
• (usually insides) informal the stomach and bowels:my insides are out of order

• 3 (the inside) informal a position affording private information:will you be my spy on the inside?

adjective

• situated on or in, or derived from, the inside:an inside pocket
• (in some team sports) denoting positions nearer to the center of the field:possibly the best inside linebacker in the country
• (of a pitch in baseball) passing between the batter and the strike zone:an inside pitch to a right-handed hitter

preposition & adverb

• 1situated within the confines of (something): [as preposition]:a radio was playing inside the apartment he fitted a light inside the cupboard [as adverb]:Mr. Jackson is waiting for you inside
• moving so as to end up within (something): [as preposition]:Anatoly reached inside his shirt and brought out a map [as adverb]:we walked inside
• within (the body or mind of a person), typically with reference to sensations of self-awareness: [as preposition]:she felt a stirring of life inside her I just roll the phrases around inside my head [as adverb]:I was screaming inside
• informal in prison:sentenced to three years inside
• Baseball close to the batter.
• (in basketball, soccer, and other sports) closer to the center of the field than (another player): [as preposition]:he went inside Graves and scored near the post [as adverb]:he does an excellent job of getting the ball inside to Randall

• 2 [preposition] in less than (the period of time specified):the oven will have paid for itself inside 18 months