latch

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

latch, v. t. [Cf. F. lécher to lick (of German origin). Cf. Lick.].

 To smear; to anoint.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

latch, n. [OE. lacche, fr. lacchen to seize, As. læccan.].

•  That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare.  Rom. of R.  [1913 Webster]
•  A movable piece which holds anything in place by entering a notch or cavity; specifically, the catch which holds a door or gate when closed, though it be not bolted.  [1913 Webster]
•  A latching.  [1913 Webster]
•  A crossbow.  Wright.  [1913 Webster]

latch, v. t. [OE. lacchen. See Latch. n.].

•  To catch so as to hold.  [1913 Webster]

  "Those that remained threw darts at our men, and latching our darts, sent them again at us."  [1913 Webster]
•  To catch or fasten by means of a latch.  [1913 Webster]

  "The door was only latched."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

latch, n. & v.
--n.
1 a bar with a catch and lever used as a fastening for a gate etc.
2 a spring-lock preventing a door from being opened from the outside without a key after being shut.
--v.tr. & intr. fasten or be fastened with a latch.

Idiom

latch on (often foll. by to) colloq.
1 attach oneself (to).
2 understand. on the latch fastened by the latch only, not locked.

Etymology

prob. f. (now dial.) latch (v.) seize f. OE l{aelig}ccan f. Gmc

THESAURUS

latch

articulate, bang, bar, barricade, batten, batten down, bolt, buckle, butt, button, button up, choke, choke off, clap, clasp, cleat, clip, close, close up, constrict, contain, contract, cover, dovetail, fasten, fold, fold up, hasp, hinge, hitch, hook, jam, joint, key, lock, lock out, lock up, miter, mortise, nail, occlude, padlock, peg, pin, plumb, rabbet, rivet, scarf, screw, seal, seal off, seal up, secure, sew, shut, shut the door, shut up, skewer, slam, snap, squeeze shut, staple, stick, stitch, strangle, tack, toggle, wedge, zip up, zipper

ROGET THESAURUS

latch

Junction

VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.