English · Word Candidate

hatch

/hæt͡ʃ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: hatching · hatched

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A horizontal door in a floor or ceiling.

Noun

Moving the wardrobe revealed a previously hidden hatch in the ground.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

A trapdoor.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

To close with a hatch or hatches.

Verb

'Twere not amiss to keep our door hatched.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

To emerge from an egg.

Verb

These three chicks hatched yesterday morning.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “hatch” mean?

A horizontal door in a floor or ceiling.

Is “hatch” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.