hatch

An opening that gives access to another space, often with a cover that can be closed.

• He climbed through the hatch.
• The boat has an escape hatch in its roof.
• We lowered the tools through a narrow hatch.

Similar words: opening, access hole

Common phrases: escape hatch, access hatch, through the hatch

A door or cover set flat in a floor or ceiling.

• She lifted the wooden hatch.
• An old hatch in the floor led to the cellar.
• Can you open the ceiling hatch so I can reach the attic?

Similar words: trapdoor

Common phrases: attic hatch, floor hatch, open the hatch

An opening in a wall through which food or other things are passed.

• Collect your food at the hatch.
• The cook passed a plate through the serving hatch.
• They closed the kitchen hatch after lunch.

Similar words: serving window, pass-through

Common phrases: serving hatch, kitchen hatch, through the hatch

If a young animal does this, it comes out of its egg.

• The chicks will hatch soon.
• Five ducklings hatched yesterday.
• Baby turtles hatch from eggs buried in the sand.

How to use it: hatch from/out of an egg (A tiny turtle hatched from the egg.)

Similar words: emerge

Common phrases: hatch from eggs, hatch in spring, hatch into something

If an egg does this, it breaks open as the young animal comes out.

• The eggs will hatch soon.
• Only three of the eggs hatched.
• Keep the eggs warm until they hatch.

Common phrases: hatch after something, hatch in days

To make part of a drawing look darker using closely spaced thin lines.

• Hatch the shadow with thin lines.
• The artist hatched the background in ink.
• She carefully hatched the darker areas of her sketch.

Similar words: shade

Common phrases: hatch a drawing, hatch the background, hatch with lines