latch

present singular third person latches · participle present latching · participle past latched · past latched · obsolete participle past laught · obsolete past laught

1. To close or lock as if with a latch.
2. transitiveTo catch; lay hold of.

   Where hearing should not latch them.

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]

3. computingTo use a latch (kind of lightweight lock).
4. To connect to the breast.

plural latches · alternative lech · alternative letch

1. A fastening for a door that has a bar that fits into a notch or slot, and is lifted by a lever or string from either side.

   The cleverly constructed latch which Clayton had made for the door had sprung as Kerchak passed out; nor could the apes find means of ingress through the heavily barred windows.

   1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as chapter 4, in Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, June 1914, →OCLC

2. businessAn electronic circuit that is like a flip-flop, except that it is level triggered instead of edge triggered.
3. obsoleteA latching.
4. obsoleteA crossbow.
5. obsoleteThat which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare.

   Love will none other birde catch, Though he set either nette or latch

   c. 1360s (date written), Geffray Chaucer [i.e., Geoffrey Chaucer], “The Romaunt of the Rose”, in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London: […] Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], published 1542, →OCLC

6. A breastfeeding baby's connection to the breast.
7. computingA lightweight lock to protect internal structures from being modified by multiple concurrent accesses.

present singular third person latches · participle present latching · participle past latched · past latched

1. obsoleteTo smear; to anoint.

   But hast thou yet latch'd the Athenian's eyes With the love-juice , as I did bid thee do?

   c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

1. abbreviationacronymuncountableautomotiveAcronym of lower anchors and tethers for children.