(~es, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
When a baby bird, insect, or other animal ~es, or when it is ~ed, it comes out of its egg by breaking the shell.
As soon as the two chicks ~, they leave the nest burrow...
The young disappeared soon after they were ~ed.
VERB: V, be V-ed
2.
When an egg ~es or when a bird, insect, or other animal ~es an egg, the egg breaks open and a baby comes out.
The eggs ~ after a week or ten days...
During these periods the birds will lie on the cage floor as if trying to lay or ~ eggs.
VERB: V, V n
3.
If you ~ a plot or a scheme, you think of it and work it out.
He has accused opposition parties of ~ing a plot to assassinate the Pope.
VERB: V n
4.
A ~ is an opening in the deck of a ship, through which people or cargo can go. You can also refer to the door of this opening as a ~.
He stuck his head up through the ~...
N-COUNT
5.
A ~ is an opening in a ceiling or a wall, especially between a kitchen and a dining room, which you can pass something such as food through. (mainly BRIT)
N-COUNT
6.
If someone battens down the ~es, they prepare themselves so that they will be able to survive a coming difficulty or crisis.
Many firms are battening down the ~es and preparing to ride out the storm.
PHRASE: V inflects