hatchling
/ˈhætʃlɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhætʃlɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhach-liŋ/ (ame, mw)
hatchling — noun
- hatchlingsingular
- hatchlingsplural
1. an animal — such as a bird, turtle, or crocodile — during the first days after b
an animal — such as a bird, turtle, or crocodile — during the first days after breaking free from the egg in which it developed
A loggerhead turtle hatchling crossed the beach at night and disappeared into the waves.
hatchling + species name + verb of movement
Park rangers marked each turtle hatchling with a tag before releasing it into the sea.
passive: marked with [object] for tracking
The tiny crocodile hatchling snapped at a dragonfly floating on the pond's surface.
A kiwi hatchling the size of a fist wobbled on unsteady legs inside its nest.
The children watched in wonder as the first hatchling pushed through its shell.
- chick
restricted to young birds only; does not cover reptiles or fish
- nestling
refers specifically to a baby bird still inside the nest, not yet able to fly
- fledgling
a young bird that has grown enough to leave the nest and begin flying
- newborn
a general term for any very young animal, but strongly associated with mammals rather than egg-layers
- adult
a fully grown animal, no longer dependent on a parent or shell
文法句型
a [adjective] hatchling
hatchling + of [species]
[species] + hatchling
hatchling + verb of movement
用法筆記
Unlike 'chick' or 'nestling', which only describe young birds, 'hatchling' covers any egg-laying creature — including reptiles, fish, and insects — in the first hours or days after emerging from the shell.