Real Dictionary

hatch
verb: When a baby bird, insect, or other animal hatches, or when it is hatched, it comes out of its egg by breaking the shell.
verb: When an egg hatches or when a bird, insect, or other animal hatches an egg, the egg breaks open and a baby comes out.

hatch in American English 1
to bring forth (young) from an egg or eggs by applying warmth
to bring forth young; develop embryos
intransitive verb: to be hatched
noun: the act of hatching
transitive verb: to bring forth (young) from the egg

hatch in American English 2
the lower half of a door, gate, etc. that has two separately movable halves
noun: an opening, usually rectangular, in the deck through which passengers can pass, cargo can be loaded or unloaded, etc

hatch in American English 3
any of these lines
to mark or engrave with fine, crossed or parallel lines so as to indicate shading
noun: a shading line in drawing or engraving
transitive verb: to mark with lines, esp. closely set parallel lines, as for shading in drawing or engraving

hatch in British English 1
noun: the act or process of hatching
verb: to cause (the young of various animals, esp birds) to emerge from the egg or (of young birds, etc) to emerge from the egg

hatch in British English 2
noun: a covering for a hatchway

hatch in British English 3
verb: to mark (a figure, shade, etc) with fine parallel or crossed lines to indicate shading