latch Hear it!

latch Definition

latch (lac̸h)

noun

  1. a fastening for a door or gate, esp. one capable of being worked from either side by means of a lever and consisting of a bar that falls into a notch in a piece attached to the doorjamb or gatepost
  2. a spring lock on a door; specif., a night latch
  3. a fastening for a window, etc.

Etymology: ME lacche < lacchen, to seize, catch hold of < OE læccan < IE base *(s)lagw-, to grasp, seize > Gr lazesthai, to take, lambanein, to seize

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to fasten or close with a latch

latch Idioms

latch onto

Informal to get or obtain

on the latch

fastened by the latch (sense ) but not locked or bolted

latch Synonyms

latch

n.

latch Synonyms

latch

v.

latch Usage Examples

Object

  • door: Then he cautiously left the house and latched the door behind him.
  • baby: Rachael helped me round and propped me up on the pillows, and the baby latched on almost immediately.
  • mechanism: Both sockets have a latching mechanism to stop the plug from being accidentally pulled out.
  • device: Qq Quick Release A latching device for quickly mounting and removing the camera from the tripod.

Converse of object

  • lift: He told us to lift the latch of the street door.
  • fit: Metal gates are supplied with the latch ready fitted.
  • turn: Will take a standard square bar to turn a standard latch or lock.

Preposition: onto

  • rebound: Germany were already two up through Lukas Podolski who latched onto a rebound to steer past the stricken Andreas Isaksson on four minutes.
  • ball: Jones latched onto the ball to hit home from about ten yards out.
  • pass: Hyde scored a consolation in the 87th minute when Walker latched onto a pass and slotted in.

Modifies a noun

  • hook: Using a latch hook, it would probably take you ten times that long to cover the same area!
  • door: Landing Exposed timbers and stripped pine latch doors to all bedrooms.
  • plate: The latch plate on some barrels has raised edges behind the screw holes.
  • mechanism: Its slam latch mechanism allows the cover to be replaced without using the key.
  • tool: Cast off loosely onto waste yarn or latch tool.

Modifying Another Word

  • securely: These covers securely latch onto the pool deck or fit into tracks along the pool edge.
  • quickly: They quickly latched on to mobile phones to send hate texts.

Noun used with modifier

  • rim: A rim latch ( Yale ) lock will not suffice on its own.
  • door: The doors latch, which is a great idea!
  • night: A simple night latch lock does not provide adequate security on its own.

Browse dictionary entries near latch

  1. Latakia
  2. LATA
  3. lat
  4. lastly
  5. lasting
  6. last word
  7. last will and testament
  8. Last Supper
  9. last straw
  10. last rites
  1. latch onto
  2. latchet
  3. latchkey
  4. latchstring
  5. late
  6. late bloomer
  7. Late Greek
  8. Late Latin
  9. latecomer
  10. lateen