latch

latch
/lach/, n.
1. a device for holding a door, gate, or the like, closed, consisting basically of a bar falling or sliding into a catch, groove, hole, etc.
v.t.
2. to close or fasten with a latch.
v.i.
3. to close tightly so that the latch is secured: The door won't latch.
4. latch on,
a. to grab or hold on, as to an object or idea, esp. tightly or tenaciously.
b. to include or add in; attach: If we latch the tax on, the bill will come to over $100.
5. latch onto, Informal.
a. to take possession of; obtain; get.
b. to acquire understanding of; comprehend.
c. to attach oneself to; join in with: The stray dog latched onto the children and wouldn't go home.
[bef. 950; 1930-35 for def. 5; ME lacchen, OE laeccan to take hold of, catch, seize; akin to Gk lázesthai to take]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • latch — [lach] n. [ME lacche < lacchen, to seize, catch hold of < OE læccan < IE base * (s)lagw , to grasp, seize > Gr lazesthai, to take, lambanein, to seize] 1. a fastening for a door or gate, esp. one capable of being worked from either… …   English World dictionary

  • latch — latch; un·latch; latch·et; pot·latch; ko·latch; …   English syllables

  • Latch — Latch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Latched} (l[a^]cht); p. pr. & vb. n. {Latching}.] [OE. lacchen. See {Latch}. n.] 1. To catch so as to hold. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Those that remained threw darts at our men, and latching our darts, sent them again at… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • latch on — (of a breastfeeding baby) manage to get its mouth into the correct position around the nipple. → latch latch on informal understand the meaning of something. → latch …   English new terms dictionary

  • Latch — (l[a^]ch), v. t. [Cf. F. l[ e]cher to lick (of German origin). Cf. {Lick}.] To smear; to anoint. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Latch — Latch, n. [OE. lacche, fr. lacchen to seize, As. l[ae]ccan.] 1. That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare. [Obs.] Rom. of R. [1913 Webster] 2. A movable piece which holds anything in place by entering a notch or cavity; specifically, the catch …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • latch\ on — • latch on • hitch onto v informal 1. To get hold of; grasp or grab; catch. He looked for something to latch onto and keep from falling. The football player latched onto a pass. 2. slang To get into your possession. The banker latched onto a… …   Словарь американских идиом

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  • latch on to — (informal) 1. To attach oneself to 2. To gain comprehension of • • • Main Entry: ↑latch …   Useful english dictionary

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