latch
Word family nounlatchkeylatch
Daily life
latch1 /lætʃ/ noun [countableC] 
1 DSHUT/CLOSEa small metal or plastic object used to keep a door, gate, or window closed 〔门或窗的〕闩，插销 Gwen lifted the latch and opened the gate.
→5 see picture at 见图 lock2 格温拉起门闩，把门打开。
2 especially British EnglishBrEDSHUT/CLOSE a type of lock for a door that you can open from the inside by turning a handle, but that you need a key to open from the outside 碰锁，碰簧锁
on the latch (=shut but not locked) 合上〔关闭但没有锁上〕
Ray went out, leaving the door on the latch.
雷出去了，把门合上但没锁。
Examples from the Corpus
latch• Put childproof latches on cabinet doors and drawers.• Some have side-mounted pullout sections; park the vehicle, flip a few latches and presto, instant living room.• Please would you tell the Brigadier that one-five-one is the combination that unlocks the right-hand latch of a black crocodile briefcase.• You got just a little latch in there right.• A jammed hinge or latch can be freed with a penetrating oil such as Plus Gas.• I can still remember the click of the latch as she shut the door behind her.• Luce was studying them intently, when the click of the latch told her Michele was back.• She glanced at John quickly and then leaned forward, slipped the latch, and pushed it open.• The latch clanged loudly as the gate was pulled shut.
on the latch• He could see the shadow of Polly's arm on the latch through the crack between the open door and the frame.• Just keep the door on the latch.• During office hours the main door of Moorlake House was always left on the latch.• Anthony came in, his hand resting for a frozen second on the latch as he noticed the room's occupants.
latch2 verb [transitiveT]
1.SHUT/CLOSEto fasten a door, gate, or window with a latch 用碰(簧)锁锁上；用插销插上
2 latch on phrasal verbphr v British EnglishBrE informal to understand 理解
He’s so thick it took him ages to latch on.
他很笨，花了很久才弄明白。
3 latch onto somebody/something (also latch on to somebody/something) phrasal verbphr v informal
a) INTERESTEDto become very interested in something 对某人/某事深感兴趣
Don’t just latch on to the latest management fads.
不要只顾着追逐最新出现的时髦管理理念。
b) ATTENTIONto follow someone and keep trying to talk to them, get their attention etc, especially when they would prefer to be left alone 缠住某人不放
He latched onto Sandy at the party and wouldn’t go away.
在派对上他缠住桑迪不放。
c) to hold tightly to something with your hand, mouth etc 紧抓；紧咬
a baby latching on to its mother’s breast
紧紧咬住母亲乳头的婴儿
Examples from the Corpus
latch onto • And you have to latch on to something, some admirable qualities they have.• Even Starbucks has latched on to the trend, adding a drive-through window at a store last month.• He'd been in line for it this year until these two monkeys had latched on to him.• I latched on to her like my lifeline.• Many have thus latched on to Oakeshott's use of tradition to identify him as a Burkean conservative.• She had stupidly given him the name Marie and he had latched on to it.• The industry is betting that consumers will latch on to the idea.• These are probably latched on to by carp when digging for food.
Examples from the Corpus
latch• I don't think Conrad was latching on properly, but I must admit breastfeeding did confuse me.• Rangers continued to move forward and four minutes later Ferdinand latched on to a fine chip by Ian Holloway.• She had stupidly given him the name Marie and he had latched on to it.• If your players don't latch on to such throwaways first time, too bad.• Even Starbucks has latched on to the trend, adding a drive-through window at a store last month.• Rule No. 1: Always latch your refrigerator before takeoff.
Old English læccan