hatch
hatch — verb
1. when a baby bird, fish, or insect breaks the shell of its egg and comes out; or
when a baby bird, fish, or insect breaks the shell of its egg and comes out; or when someone helps this happen by keeping the eggs warm
The ducklings **hatched** from their eggs and followed their mother to the pond.
intransitive: hatch from an egg
For her science project, Élise used an incubator to **hatch** chicken eggs in her classroom.
transitive: hatch [eggs] with an incubator
The zookeeper turned the turtle eggs gently each day and waited for them to **hatch**.
Last spring, three baby robins **hatched** in the nest outside our kitchen window.
intransitive: baby birds hatch
- hatch from an egg
- hatch out
- hatch eggs
- eggs hatch
- chicks/ducklings/turtles hatch
- newly hatched
Grammar Patterns
hatch [intransitive] — the egg/chick hatches
hatch [transitive] — the mother/incubator hatches the eggs
Usage Note
The phrasal verb hatch out emphasises the moment of breaking through the shell: 'The chicks hatched out at dawn.' The transitive pattern (hatch eggs) is common when describing human-controlled incubation, while the intransitive pattern is used for the natural process.
Common Mistakes
2. to think of and develop a plan or idea, especially one that is kept secret from
to think of and develop a plan or idea, especially one that is kept secret from others
Three students **hatched** a plan to surprise their teacher on the last day of school.
collocation: hatch a plan
The criminals **hatched** a secret scheme to break into the museum vault at midnight.
collocation: hatch a scheme (often secret or illegal)
During their lunch break, Walid and Shanti **hatched** an idea for a new community garden.
The neighbourhood watch group **hatched** a clever plan to stop the recent thefts.
collocation: hatch a clever plan
- hatch a plan
- hatch a scheme
- hatch a plot
- hatch an idea
- hatch a conspiracy
Grammar Patterns
hatch + a plan / a scheme / a plot / an idea
Usage Note
This sense of hatch is always followed by the object being planned (a plan, scheme, plot, or idea). It often carries a tone of secrecy or trickery, but can also be used playfully for harmless surprises.
Common Mistakes
hatch out
phrasal verbto come out of an egg by breaking the shell
We watched the baby parrots **hatch out** one by one inside the nest box.
You should not assume that something will happen until it actually does.
Maya thought she got the job, but I told her not to count her chickens.
Don't count your chickens before they hatch; the deal might still fall through.
hatch — noun
1. an opening on a ship, aircraft, or in a floor or wall, which can be sealed with
an opening on a ship, aircraft, or in a floor or wall, which can be sealed with a solid cover to stop water, air, or objects from passing through
The sailor climbed up through the **hatch** and stepped out onto the deck.
physical opening on a ship
Minh opened the roof **hatch** to let fresh air into the car during the drive.
vehicle hatch: roof hatch on a car
Before diving deeper, the submarine captain ordered all **hatches** to be sealed tightly.
The waiter passed the soup through the serving **hatch** between the kitchen and dining room.
common type: serving hatch between rooms
- escape hatch
- roof hatch
- service hatch
- cargo hatch
- seal a hatch
- open a hatch
- through the hatch
- hatch cover
Grammar Patterns
through a/the hatch
open/close a hatch
escape hatch
roof hatch
Usage Note
Hatch can refer either to the opening itself or to the cover that closes it. In ships and aircraft it is usually a heavy sealed door; in buildings it may be a simple flap in a wall (e.g. a serving hatch between a kitchen and dining room).