I. ˈlach verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English lachen, lacchen, from Old English læccan; akin to Greek lambanein, lazesthai to take, grasp
intransitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to lay hold especially with the hands or arms : grasp , seize , grapple
searching for crevices to latch upon — Norman Mailer
— usually used with on or onto
tractors latch on to remains of derrick and drilling tools — Irish Digest
latched onto a … pass — New Yorker
(2) : to gain or come into possession : get hold — usually used with on or onto
had latched on to 444,000 shares — Newsweek
can I latch on to some of your dough — C.O.Gorham
knew that he had latched on to a good thing — Philip Hamburger
(3) : to keep firm possession or grasp : hold — usually used with on or onto
you ought to know enough to latch onto your gear — John Hersey
b. : to gain understanding or comprehension : tumble — usually used with on
slow … in latching on to the notion that her husband's work is important — John McCarten
c. : to associate oneself closely or intimately : attach oneself — used with on or onto
I'd think he'd latch onto a girl like that — W.C.Fridley
nobody's latching onto me — Saul Levitt
latched onto this racket right under his nose — Harold Robbins
2. dialect England : alight
transitive verb
dialect Britain : catch , get , receive
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English lache, lacche, from lachen, lacchen, v.
1. : a device that holds something in place by entering a notch or cavity ; specifically : the catch which holds a door or gate when closed even if not bolted
2. now dialect England : a loop or noose that fastens or holds : snare
3. : the hinged piece of a knitting-machine needle that holds the engaged loop in position while the needle is penetrating another loop
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
transitive verb
: to catch or fasten by means of a latch
latch the door
intransitive verb
: to latch itself : shut so that the latch catches
will the door latch
IV.
variant of letch I