latch
/lætʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /lætʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlach/ (ame, mw)
latch — noun
- latchsingular
- latchesplural
1. a short bar of metal or wood, attached to one side of a door or to a gate, that
a short bar of metal or wood, attached to one side of a door or to a gate, that drops into a slot on the frame to hold it shut; you lift the bar in order to open it
Harper lifted the rusty latch on the garden gate and pushed it open.
lift the latch on [gate]
The wind blew the kitchen door against the latch with a sharp click.
subject = inanimate (wind)
Caleb noticed that the latch on the chicken coop was broken again.
The old wooden latch slipped down into its slot and held the barn shut.
文法句型
the latch on [door/gate]
lift/drop the latch
用法筆記
Subject of 'lift' / 'drop' / 'fasten' is usually a person operating the door; subject of 'click' / 'slip' is the latch itself.
常見錯誤
2. the position of a door when its latch is engaged but the door is not locked, so
the position of a door when its latch is engaged but the door is not locked, so that anyone can simply push it open
Tamar left the back door on the latch so her brother could come in late.
leave [door] on the latch
In small villages, many people leave their front door on the latch all day.
on the latch with plural subject
Karim asked the cleaner to leave the office door on the latch until five.
The cottage door was on the latch, so Rohan walked straight in without knocking.
- locked
secured with a key or bolt; the opposite state
文法句型
leave the door on the latch
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (the object): here 'latch' names a state, used only inside the fixed phrase 'on the latch'. Common in British English, less so in American English.
常見錯誤
3. a kind of door lock that snaps shut by itself when the door is closed and which
a kind of door lock that snaps shut by itself when the door is closed and which you can only open from the outside using a key
Christopher fitted a new latch to the front door after the burglary last month.
fit a latch to [door]
The flat had only a simple latch, with no extra bolt for night-time security.
have a latch + no bolt
Omar realised he had left his keys inside and the latch had already snapped shut.
The landlord changed the latch on the main entrance after the old tenants moved out.
- nightlatch
everyday name for the same device, especially on a front door
- Yale lock
trademark name used generically for this kind of spring-operated door lock
文法句型
fit a latch
[door] has a latch
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (a bar that drops into a slot): this sense names a self-closing key-operated lock, often fitted to the front door of a flat or house. Sometimes called a 'nightlatch' or 'Yale lock' in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
latch — verb
- latchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- latches3rd person singular
- latching-ing form
- latchedpast simple
1. to fasten a door, gate, or lid by lowering or sliding its latch, or (of a door)
to fasten a door, gate, or lid by lowering or sliding its latch, or (of a door) to become fastened in this way when you close it
Lucía latched the garden gate carefully before walking back into the house.
transitive: latch + [gate]
The barn door swung shut and latched on its own in the strong wind.
intransitive: door latched on its own
Eve latched the bedroom window before going to bed.
Hari pushed the chicken-coop lid down until it latched with a quiet click.
- unlatch
to lift the latch and release the door
文法句型
latch [door]
[door] latches
用法筆記
Transitive use is far more common than intransitive; intransitive use describes a self-closing latch (a spring or weight returns the bar into its slot).