Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Latch \Latch\, v. t. [Cf. F. l['e]cher to lick (of German
   origin). Cf. {Lick}.]
   To smear; to anoint. [Obs.] --Shak.

Latch \Latch\, n. [OE. lacche, fr. lacchen to seize, As.
   l[ae]ccan.]
   1. That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare. [Obs.]
      --Rom. of R.

   2. A movable piece which holds anything in place by entering
      a notch or cavity; specifically, the catch which holds a
      door or gate when closed, though it be not bolted.

   3. (Naut.) A latching.

   4. A crossbow. [Obs.] --Wright.

Latch \Latch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Latched}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Latching}.] [OE. lacchen. See {Latch}. n.]
   1. To catch so as to hold. [Obs.]

            Those that remained threw darts at our men, and
            latching our darts, sent them again at us.
                                                  --Golding.

   2. To catch or fasten by means of a latch.

            The door was only latched.            --Locke.

Source : WordNet®

latch
     v : fasten with a latch; "latch the door"

latch
     n 1: spring-loaded doorlock that can only be opened from the
          outside with a key [syn: {door latch}]
     2: catch for fastening a door or gate; a bar that can be
        lowered or slid into a groove

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

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)