latch

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /læt͡ʃ/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like lash /tʃ/ vs /ʃ/ Sounds like lass /tʃ/ vs /s/

Freq #13814

Meanings

1

verb
fasten with a latch

Latch the door.
2

verb
To catch; lay hold of.

Where hearing should not latch them.
3

noun
A fastening for a door that has a bar that fits into a notch or slot, and is lifted by a lever or string from either side.

The cleverly constructed latch which Clayton had made for the door had sprung as Kerchak passed out; nor could the apes find means of ingress through the heavily barred windows.
4

noun
That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare.

Love will none other birde catch, Though he set either nette or latch.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with latch

latch on Phrasal verb C2

to begin to understand or grasp an idea

Thesaurus

Word family

Derived forms deadlatchdoorlatchdrawlatchlatch-uplatchablelatchboltlatcherlatchetlatchfordlatchkeylatchlesslatchstring

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

latch on
to begin to understand or grasp an idea

Verb + adverb

Etymology

From Middle English lacchen (“to seize, catch, grasp”, verb), from Old English læċċan (“to grasp, take hold of, catch, seize”), from Proto-Germanic *lakjaną, *lakwijaną, *lakkijaną (“to seize”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leh₂g-, *(s)leh₂gʷ- (“to take, seize”). Cognate with Middle Dutch lakken (“to grasp, catch”).

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# latch

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /læt͡ʃ/
**Frequency rank:** 13814

## Meanings
1. fasten with a latch
2. To catch; lay hold of.
3. A fastening for a door that has a bar that fits into a notch or slot, and is lifted by a lever or string from either side.
4. That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare.

## Examples
- Latch the door.
- Where hearing should not latch them.
- The cleverly constructed latch which Clayton had made for the door had sprung as Kerchak passed out; nor could the apes find means of ingress through the heavily barred windows.
- Love will none other birde catch, Though he set either nette or latch.

## Derived Forms
- deadlatch
- doorlatch
- drawlatch
- latch-up
- latchable
- latchbolt
- latcher
- latchet
- latchford
- latchkey
- latchless
- latchstring

## Etymology
From Middle English lacchen (“to seize, catch, grasp”, verb), from Old English læċċan (“to grasp, take hold of, catch, seize”), from Proto-Germanic *lakjaną, *lakwijaną, *lakkijaną (“to seize”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leh₂g-, *(s)leh₂gʷ- (“to take, seize”). Cognate with Middle Dutch lakken (“to grasp, catch”).

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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