hatch

n 1: the production of young from an egg [syn: {hatching}]

2: shading consisting of multiple crossing lines [syn: {hatching},

{crosshatch}, {hachure}]

3: a covering for a hatchway

v 1: emerge from the eggs; of birds or reptiles

2: devise or invent; "He thought up a plan to get rich

quickly"; "no-one had ever thought of such a clever piece

of software" [syn: {think up}, {think of}, {dream up}, {concoct}]

3: sit on (eggs); "Birds brood"; "The female covers the eggs"

[syn: {brood}, {cover}, {incubate}]

latch

A digital logic circuit used to store one or more bits. A

latch has a data input, a clock input and an output. When the

clock input is active, data on the input is "latched" or

stored and transfered to the output either immediately or when

the clock input goes inactive. The output will then retain

its value until the clock goes active again.

See also {flip-flop}.

(1995-02-03)