Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense latches, present participle latching, past tense, past participle latched
1. countable noun
A latch is a fastening on a door or gate. It consists of a metal bar which you lift in order to open the door.
You left the latch off the gate and the dog escaped.
Synonyms: fastening, catch, bar, lock More Synonyms of latch
2. countable noun
A latch is a lock on a door which locks automatically when you shut the door, so that you need a key in order to open it from the outside.
...a key clicked in the latch of the front door. [+ of]
See off the latch/on the latch
3. verb
If you latch a door or gate, you fasten it by means of a latch.
He latched the door, tested it, and turned around to speak to Frank. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: fasten, bar, secure, lock More Synonyms of latch
Phrasal verbs:
See latch onto
latch in British English
(lætʃ)
noun
1.
a fastening for a gate or door that consists of a bar that may be slid or lowered into a groove, hole, etc
2.
a spring-loaded door lock that can be opened by a key from outside
3. Also called: latch circuit electronics
a logic circuit that transfers the input states to the output states when signalled, the output thereafter remaining insensitive to changes in input status until signalled again
verb
4.
to fasten, fit, or be fitted with or as if with a latch
Word origin
Old English læccan to seize, of Germanic origin; related to Greek lazesthai
latch in American English
(lætʃ)
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.
verb transitive, verb intransitive
4.
to fasten or close with a latch
Idioms:
latch onto
on the latch
Word origin
ME lacche < lacchen, to seize, catch hold of < OE læccan < IE base *(s)lagw-, to grasp, seize > Gr lazesthai, to take, lambanein, to seize
Examples of 'latch' in a sentence
latch
Punters latch on to a grey and love to see them win.
The Sun (2012)
Instead it lets one of the computers controlling the interior lights know that the latch is open.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One cop found unmade bedding in a bedroom and saw a cupboard locked by a latch from the outside.
The Sun (2012)
He then clambered on to a box to reach the door latch and let the paramedics in to revive her.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There are four bedrooms and lots of original features, such as exposed timbers and latched timber doors.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is capable of taking two good-sized suitcases - and a surfboard fits in if you open a latch into the back seats.
The Sun (2014)
In other languages
latch
British English: latch NOUN
A latch is a fastening on a door or gate. It consists of a metal bar which you lift in order to open the door.
You left the latch off the gate and the dog escaped.
American English: latch
Brazilian Portuguese: trinco
Chinese: 门闩
European Spanish: pestillo
French: loquet
German: Riegel
Italian: chiavistello
Japanese: 掛け金
Korean: 빗장
European Portuguese: trinco
Latin American Spanish: pestillo
All related terms of 'latch'
latch on
to attach oneself (to)
latch onto
If someone latches onto a person or an idea or latches on , they become very interested in the person or idea, often finding them so useful that they do not want to leave them.
night latch
a door lock that is operated by means of a knob on the inside and a key on the outside
latch circuit
a fastening for a gate or door that consists of a bar that may be slid or lowered into a groove , hole, etc
on the latch
fastened by the → latch (sense 1 ) but not locked or bolted
latchkey
If you refer to a child as a latchkey kid , you disapprove of the fact that they have to let themselves into their home when returning from school because their parents are out at work.
off the latch/on the latch
If a door is on the latch or off the latch , the latch has been set so that it will not lock when you shut the door.
Chinese translation of 'latch'
latch
(lætʃ)
n(c)
(on door, gate) 闩(閂) (shuān) (个(個), gè)
on/off the latch上/没(沒)上闩(閂) (shàng/méi shàng shuān)
(noun)
Definition
a fastening for a gate or door that consists of a bar that may be slid or lowered into a groove, hole, or notch
You left the latch off the gate and the dog escaped.
Synonyms
fastening
catch
Always fit windows with safety locks or catches.
bar
lock
He heard her key turning in the lock.
hook
One of his jackets hung from a hook.
bolt
I heard him slide the bolt across the door.
clamp
hasp
sneck (dialect)
(verb)
Definition
to fasten, fit, or be fitted with a latch
He latched the door, tested it and turned round to speak to us.
Synonyms
fasten
He fastened the door behind him.
bar
For added safety, bar the door to the kitchen.
secure
With a discreet click he secured the lock.
lock
Are you sure you locked the front door?
bolt
He reminded her to lock and bolt the kitchen door behind her.
make fast
sneck (dialect)
phrasal verb
See latch on to something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bar
Definition
to secure with a bar
For added safety, bar the door to the kitchen.
Synonyms
lock,
block,
secure,
chain,
attach,
anchor,
bolt,
blockade,
barricade,
fortify,
fasten,
latch,
obstruct,
make firm,
make fast,
stop
in the sense of bolt
Definition
a bar that can be slid into a socket to lock a door, gate, etc.
I heard him slide the bolt across the door.
Synonyms
bar,
catch,
lock,
latch,
fastener,
sliding bar
in the sense of bolt
Definition
to secure or lock with or as if with a bolt
He reminded her to lock and bolt the kitchen door behind her.
Synonyms
lock,
close,
bar,
secure,
fasten,
latch
Nearby words of
latch
last-minute
lasting
lastly
latch
latch on to something
late
late-night
Related terms of
latch
latch on to something
Synonyms of 'latch'
latch
Explore 'latch' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of catch
Definition
a device such as a hook, for fastening a door, window, or box
Always fit windows with safety locks or catches.
Synonyms
fastener,
hook,
clip,
bolt,
latch,
clasp,
hasp,
hook and eye,
snib (Scottish),
sneck (dialect, Scottish, NorthernEngland)
in the sense of hook
Definition
a curved piece of metal or plastic used to hang, hold, or pull something
One of his jackets hung from a hook.
Synonyms
fastener,
catch,
link,
lock,
holder,
peg,
clasp,
hasp
in the sense of lock
Definition
a device for fastening a door, drawer, lid, etc., and preventing unauthorized access
He heard her key turning in the lock.
Synonyms
fastening,
catch,
bolt,
clasp,
padlock
in the sense of lock
Definition
to secure (a building) by locking all doors and windows