latched; latching; latches
1
: to lay hold with or as if with the hands or arms
—used with on or onto
2
: to associate oneself intimately and often artfully
—used with on or onto
latched onto a rich widow
: any of various devices in which mating mechanical parts engage to fasten but usually not to lock something:
a
: a fastener (as for a door) consisting essentially of a pivoted bar that falls into a notch
b
: a fastener (as for a door) in which a spring slides a bolt into a hole
also
: night latch
latched; latching; latches
: to make fast with or as if with a latch
Examples of latch in a Sentence
Noun
He lifted the latch and opened the gate.
I heard her key turn in the latch.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Parents in rural areas also often lack the basic knowledge about the practical side of breastfeeding, including how much milk a newborn needs to drink, how to properly latch, and how to count wet diapers as a means of understanding how much milk their newborns are drinking.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 5 Mar. 2025
Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
There’s a latch in place of a magnetic cover and the Apple Pencil slot sits on the outside.
—Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for latch
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Verb
But even pinned down, Augustin reportedly latched onto his sister’s hair and pants, refusing to release his grip as authorities arrived.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Parents in rural areas also often lack the basic knowledge about the practical side of breastfeeding, including how much milk a newborn needs to drink, how to properly latch, and how to count wet diapers as a means of understanding how much milk their newborns are drinking.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
Secure latches: Some travel cases have a zipper to securely close the case — most commonly on soft-sided cases.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
There’s a latch in place of a magnetic cover and the Apple Pencil slot sits on the outside.
—Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for latch
Cite this Entry
“Latch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latch. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
latch
1 of 3 verb1
: to get hold
2
: to attach oneself
latch
2 of 3 noun
: a catch (as a spring bolt) that holds a door or gate closed
latch
3 of 3 verb
: to catch or fasten by means of a latch
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