Library / English Dictionary

LATCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Catch for fastening a door or gate; a bar that can be lowered or slid into a groove

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("latch" is a kind of...):

catch (a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window)

Derivation:

latch (fasten with a latch)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Spring-loaded doorlock that can only be opened from the outside with a key

Synonyms:

door latch; latch

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("latch" is a kind of...):

lock (a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed)

Derivation:

latch (fasten with a latch)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fasten with a latch

Example:

latch the door

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "latch" is one way to...):

fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

latch (catch for fastening a door or gate; a bar that can be lowered or slid into a groove)

latch (spring-loaded doorlock that can only be opened from the outside with a key)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Get thee back to thy fellows ere I lay hands upon you: for your foot is on my land, and I may slay you as a common draw-latch.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Lift the latch,” called out the grandmother, “I am too weak, and cannot get up.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I saw the door move, and instinctively tried to hold the latch on the outside, to gain a moment's time.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

There was a fumbling at the latch, then the door swung in and Haythorne entered with an armful of firewood.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

First he fastened up the windows and latched them securely; next, taking a handful of the flowers, he rubbed them all over the sashes, as though to ensure that every whiff of air that might get in would be laden with the garlic smell.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He was lifting the latch: a sudden thought occurred to me.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It shall never be said, whilst I am bailiff of Southampton, that any waster, riever, draw-latch or murtherer came scathless away from me and my posse.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Master at Salem House lifted the latch of one of a number of little black doors that were all alike, and had each a little diamond-paned window on one side, and another little diamond—paned window above; and we went into the little house of one of these poor old women, who was blowing a fire to make a little saucepan boil.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

No; it was St. John Rivers, who, lifting the latch, came in out of the frozen hurricane—the howling darkness—and stood before me: the cloak that covered his tall figure all white as a glacier.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

On all the French marches are droves of outcasts, reivers, spoilers, and draw-latches, of whom I judge that these are some, though I marvel that they should dare to come so nigh to the castle of the seneschal.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)