Meaning & Definition of word "Hatch"

to

arrow

    Hatch

    /hætʃ/

    noun:

    • 1. an opening in the floor or roof of a building, often leading to a loft or ship's hold.
      • Example: The crew climbed through the hatch to access the lower deck of the ship.
    • 2. a young animal that has just emerged from an egg.
      • Example: The hatch of seabirds was closely monitored by the researchers on the island.

    verb:

    • 1. to emerge from an egg, as a young bird or reptile.
      • Example: The chicks began to hatch from their eggs after three weeks of incubation.
    • 2. to create or devise a plan or idea.
      • Example: The team will hatch a strategy to increase sales in the upcoming quarter.
    • 3. to cause an egg to open and release its contents.
      • Example: The warm weather helped to hatch the turtle eggs on the beach.

    Etymology

    Middle English 'hacchen', from Old English 'hæccan', meaning to hold, grasp.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    hatch a plan:

    to devise a scheme or strategy.

    hatchery:

    a place for hatching fish or poultry.

    hatchling:

    a very young animal that has just hatched.

    under the hatch:

    beneath a hatch or opening.

    hatch up:

    to prepare or create something, usually a plan.

    Related Words

    hatchery:

    a facility for hatching eggs.

    hatchling:

    a baby animal that has just hatched.

    hatchway:

    an opening in a deck of a ship.

    hatching:

    the process of an egg breaking open.

    Slang Meanings of hatch

    Meaning: To devise a clever plan or scheme, often in a sneaky way.

    Example Sentence: They really hatched a wild idea for the prank.

    Meaning: To exit a situation suddenly.

    Example Sentence: When things got boring, he just hatched out of the party.