# hatching

/ˈhætʃɪŋ/ (US) · /hˈætʃɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hatching
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

the moment when a baby bird, fish, or insect comes out of its egg. In art, it also means a way of drawing using many small, parallel lines to create shading.

For teachers: the process of an organism emerging from an egg; alternatively, an artistic technique involving the use of fine parallel lines to create tonal or shading effects.

## Examples

- We watched the hatching of the baby sea turtles on the beach.
- The artist used delicate hatching to create a sense of depth and shadow in the portrait's background.
- While the zoologist documented the synchronized hatching of the clutch, the illustrator nearby captured the scene using cross-hatching to emphasize the rugged texture of the nest.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the artistic technique; countable when referring to specific biological events.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.