hatch

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 [V] ~ (out) (of a young bird, fish, insect, etc.) to come out of an egg: Ten chicks hatched (out) this morning. 2 [V] ~ (out) (of an egg) to break open so that a young bird, fish, insect, etc. can come out: The eggs are about to hatch. * How long do the eggs take to hatch? 3 [VN] to make a young bird, fish, insect, etc. come out of an egg: The female must find a warm place to hatch her eggs. 4 [VN] ~ sth (up) to create a plan or idea, especially in secret: Have you been hatching up a deal with her? IDIOMS see COUNTv. noun 1 (also hatchway) an opening or a door in the DECK of a ship or the bottom of an aircraft, through which goods to be carried are lowered 2 an opening in a wall between two rooms, especially a kitchen and a DININGROOM, through which food can be passed: a serving hatch 3 a door in an aircraft or a spacecraft: an escape hatch 4 an opening or a door in a floor or ceiling: a hatch to the attic IDIOMS down the hatch (informal, saying) used before drinking sth, especially to express good wishes before drinking alcohol moreatBATTEN