hatch

UK: /ˈhætʃ/ US: /hætʃ/ ,(hach)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hatch¹ /hætʃ/   v. 

1. Developmental Biology (of young birds) to (cause to) break out of an egg: [no object]
   The young birds have hatched from their eggs.
   [~ + object]
   The birds were recently hatched from their eggs.
2. (of eggs) to break open and allow a young bird to come out:
   [no object] When will the eggs hatch?
3. Developmental Biology to cause young to emerge from (the egg):
   [~ + object] The bird hatched its eggs.
4. to bring forth;
   devise:
   [~ + object] hatched a brilliant scheme.

hatch² /hætʃ/   n. [countable]

1. Naval Terms, Building
   • Also called hatchway. an opening in the deck of a vessel, used as a passageway.
   • the cover over such an opening:
     Close the hatches.
2. a door in an aircraft:
   an escape hatch.

Idioms

3. Idioms down the hatch, This expression is used as a toast before drinking something.

hatch³ /hætʃ/   v. [~ + object]

1. Printing to mark with closely drawn parallel lines, as for shading in drawing.

n. [countable]

2. Printing a shading line in drawing or engraving.

hatch•ing, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hatch¹  (hach), v.t. 

1. Developmental Biology to bring forth (young) from the egg.
2. Developmental Biology to cause young to emerge from (the egg) as by brooding or incubating.
3. to bring forth or produce;
   devise;
   create;
   contrive;
   concoct:
   to hatch a scheme.

v.i. 

4. Developmental Biology to be hatched.
5. to brood.

n. 

6. Developmental Biology the act of hatching.
7. something that is hatched, as a brood.

• 1200–50; Middle English hacchen; akin to German hecken to hatch

hatch′a•ble, adj. 
hatch′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
hatch′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. incubate, brood.
• 3. plan, plot.

hatch²  (hach), n. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms
   • Also called hatchway. an opening, usually rectangular, in the deck through which passengers can pass, cargo can be loaded or unloaded, etc.
   • the cover over such an opening.
2. Building an opening that serves as a doorway or window in the floor or roof of a building.
3. Building the cover over such an opening.
4. Slang Terms the throat as used for drinking:
   His usual toast was a muttered "Down the hatch!''
5. [Aeron.] an opening or door in an aircraft.
6. Building, Architecture the lower half of a divided door, both parts of which can be opened separately.
7. Architecture, Building a small door, grated opening, or serving counter in or attached to the wall of a building, room, etc., as for a merchant's stall.
8. Building a bin or compartment built into a confined space, esp. a deep storage bin.
9. Automotive
   • the cargo area in a hatchback.
   • Also called liftgate. the hinged lid of a hatchback that swings upward to provide access to the cargo area.
10. anything resembling a hatch.
11. Nautical, Idioms, Naval Terms batten down the or one's hatches:
    • [Naut.] prepare for stormy weather: used as a command.
    • to prepare to meet an emergency or face a great difficulty:
      The government must batten down its hatches before the election.

• bef. 1100; Middle English hacche, Old English hæcc grating, hatch, half-gate; akin to Dutch hek gate, railing

hatch³  (hach), v.t. 

1. Printing to mark with lines, esp. closely set parallel lines, as for shading in drawing or engraving.
2. Printing, Surveying hachure (def. 3).

n. 

3. Printing a shading line in drawing or engraving.

• Middle French hacher to cut up, derivative of hache ax. See hatchet
• earlier hache 1470–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hatch / hætʃ/ verb

1. to cause (the young of various animals, esp birds) to emerge from the egg or (of young birds, etc) to emerge from the egg
2. to cause (eggs) to break and release the fully developed young or (of eggs) to break and release the young animal within
3. (transitive) to contrive or devise (a scheme, plot, etc)

noun

1. the act or process of hatching
2. a group of newly hatched animals

Etymology: 13th Century: of Germanic origin; compare Middle High German hecken to mate (used of birds), Swedish häcka to hatch, Danish hække

hatch / hætʃ/ noun

1. a covering for a hatchway
2. short for hatchway
3. a door in an aircraft or spacecraft
4. 
   short for hatchback
5. Also called: serving hatch an opening in a wall between a kitchen and a dining area
6. the lower half of a divided door
7. a sluice or sliding gate in a dam, dyke, or weir
8. down the hatch ⇒ (used as a toast) drink up!
9. under hatches ⇒ below decks
10. out of sight
11. brought low; dead

Etymology: Old English hæcc; related to Middle High German heck, Dutch hek gate

hatch / hætʃ/ verb

1. to mark (a figure, shade, etc) with fine parallel or crossed lines to indicate shading
   Compare hachure

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French hacher to chop, from hache hatchet

ˈhatching noun