hatching
hatching
Pronunciation
/ˈhætʃɪŋ/
hatch: /hætʃ/
/h/ - the sound of "h" in "hat"
/æ/ - the vowel sound in "cat"
/tʃ/ - the "ch" sound in "church"
ing: /ɪŋ/
/ɪ/ - the vowel sound in "kit"
/ŋ/ - the "ng" sound in "sing"
Word Form Variations
hatching (present participle/gerund): This form is used as a verb (e.g., "The eggs are hatching.") and as a noun (e.g., "The hatching of the chicks is exciting.").
hatch (base form/verb): This is the infinitive form of the verb (e.g., "to hatch"). It's also the singular noun referring to the act of hatching (e.g., "a successful hatch").
hatches (third-person singular present): This verb form is used with he, she, it, or singular nouns (e.g., "The hen hatches the eggs."). It can also be the plural form of the noun "hatch" (e.g., "There were three hatches this year.").
hatched (past tense/past participle): This form is used for completed actions (e.g., "The chicks hatched yesterday.").
There isn't a standard plural form for the gerund/noun "hatching" in the same way there is for "hatch." You wouldn't typically say "hatchings." However, you could use "hatchings" in a more specialized context when referring to multiple instances or types of hatching events. For example, "We observed three distinct hatchings in the aviary."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Hatching (n.): The process or event of an egg breaking open and a young animal emerging.
Synonyms: emergence, birth, incubation, breakout, eclosion
Antonyms: laying (of eggs), gestation, development (within the egg)
Hatching (n.): A single brood or group of animals hatched at one time.
Synonyms: brood, clutch, generation, offspring
Antonyms: (Difficult to find a direct antonym, perhaps "dispersal" if referring to the scattering of offspring)
Hatching (n.): A technique used in drawing and engraving to create tonal effects by using closely spaced parallel lines.
Synonyms: shading, cross-hatching, line work, engraving, shading technique
Antonyms: flat color, unshaded area, highlight
Verb:
Hatch (v.): To cause an egg to break open and a young animal to emerge.
Synonyms: incubate, brood, bring forth, give birth to (used loosely), generate
Antonyms: lay (eggs), bury, conceal, suppress
Hatch (v.): To devise or develop a plan, often in secret.
Synonyms: concoct, devise, formulate, plot, scheme, contrive
Antonyms: abandon, discard, reveal, expose, neglect
Adjective:
Hatching (adj.): In the process of emerging from an egg.
Synonyms: emerging, developing, nascent, newborn, fledgling
Antonyms: developed, mature, fully grown, fledged
Hatched (adj.): Having recently emerged from an egg.
Synonyms: newborn, fledgling, recently born, newly hatched
Antonyms: pre-natal, unhatched, unborn
Adverb:
(There isn't a commonly used adverb form of "hatching.") While you could theoretically use "hatchingly" in some rare instances, it would likely sound awkward and isn't standard usage.
Examples of Use
Noun (Process/Event):
"The hatching of sea turtle eggs is a delicate process, vulnerable to many threats." (National Geographic website, environment section - Note: This is a representative example; specific articles change frequently.)
"The zoo is eagerly awaiting the hatching of the condor chicks." (Local news website - Again, a representative example; local news changes constantly.)
Noun (Group of Animals):
"This year's hatching of goslings is particularly large." (Wildlife conservation blog post - Representative example.)
"The farmer carefully monitored the hatchings to ensure the health of the chicks." (Farming magazine article - Representative example.)
Noun (Art Technique):
"Rembrandt was a master of using hatching to create depth and shadow in his etchings." (Art history textbook - Representative example.)
"The artist employed cross-hatching to build up the texture of the landscape." (Art review in a magazine or online publication - Representative example.)
Verb (Emerging from Egg):
"The chicks began to hatch early this morning." (Farm diary or blog post - Representative example.)
"The mother bird patiently hatched her eggs." (Nature documentary narration - Representative example.)
Verb (Devising a Plan):
"They were hatching a plan to escape." (Fiction novel - Representative example.)
"The company is hatching new strategies to increase sales." (Business news article - Representative example.)
Adjective (In the process):
"The hatching chick struggled to break free from its shell." (Children's book about birds - Representative example.)
"The hatching eggs were carefully monitored." (Scientific journal article about avian development - Representative example.)
Adjective (Having recently emerged):
"The hatched goslings followed their mother." (Nature documentary narration - Representative example.)
"The hatched butterflies were released into the garden." (Educational program about insects - Representative example.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Hatching
“Every dream begins by hatching in the quiet corners of intention.” (Unknown)
“My mentor said that hatching a plan means little without the courage to act.” (Unknown)
“Revolutions start by hatching in whispers long before they reach the streets.” (Unknown)
“A poet wrote that hope is always hatching, even in the coldest seasons.” (Unknown)
“Great ideas are fragile while hatching, but unstoppable once they breathe.” (Unknown)
“History reveals that the hatching of new thought frightens those invested in the old.” (Unknown)
“Be careful what resentment you’re hatching; it will one day demand release.” (Unknown)
“Love grows by hatching slowly, in gestures that seem small until remembered.” (Unknown)
“Success comes from hatching discipline daily, not occasionally.” (Unknown)
“Leaders are made by hatching character long before assuming a title.” (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "hatching" comes from the verb "to hatch." "Hatch" itself has a pretty interesting history!
It's believed to have originated from Old English, around the year 1000 AD, as the word "hæccian." This Old English word likely meant "to bring forth" or "to produce." Think of it like the act of something coming into existence.
The very first recorded use of "hatch" (or its ancestor "hæccian") was probably related to birds and eggs. It described the process of a chick breaking out of its shell. This makes perfect sense, as that's the most common and visually obvious example of something "hatching."
Over time, the meaning of "hatch" expanded a bit. While it still primarily refers to eggs and baby animals, it also came to mean "to devise or develop a plan," often in secret. Imagine someone "hatching" a plot – they're carefully nurturing and developing an idea, just like a bird nurtures an egg. This metaphorical use of "hatch" appeared a bit later, though the exact timing is hard to pin down.
So, in a nutshell, "hatching" is all about the process of something coming into being. It started with eggs and baby birds, and then broadened to include plans and ideas. The root of the word goes back over a thousand years to Old English, and it's been associated with bringing forth and producing things ever since.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Hatching
Directly using "hatch" or "hatching":
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched: This is the big one! It's a very common proverb meaning don't rely on something good happening until it's actually happened.
Why so few idioms with "hatch/hatching"?
The reason there aren't many idioms with "hatch" or "hatching" is that it's a fairly specific, concrete action. Idioms often arise from more general or metaphorical uses of words. While "hatch" can be used metaphorically (hatching a plan), it's not as versatile as words related to more abstract concepts like thinking, feeling, or doing.
Phrases and idioms with related concepts (since direct ones are scarce):
Since we're limited with "hatching" itself, let's look at phrases and idioms that capture similar ideas:
In the works: This describes something that's being planned or developed, like a plan being "hatched."
Cooking up something: Similar to "in the works," this implies a plan is being devised, often in secret.
Taking shape: This describes something that's starting to become more defined and real, like a chick emerging from an egg.
Coming to fruition: This refers to a plan or idea being successfully completed, like a chick successfully hatching.
Bearing fruit: Similar to "coming to fruition," this emphasizes the positive results of a plan.
On the drawing board: This means a plan is in its early stages of development.
Up in the air: This describes a plan that is still uncertain and hasn't been finalized, the opposite of a well-hatched plan.
Cutting-edge: This describes something new and innovative, like a new idea being "hatched."
Original phrases (since established ones are scarce):
To give you a few more examples, here are some original phrases playing on the "hatching" concept:
"The idea was still in its shell, just beginning to hatch."
"They were carefully incubating their plans, waiting for the right moment to hatch them."
"A flurry of new projects were hatching at the company."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of hatching from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
