What does hatching mean?
Hatching is a versatile English word with both literal and figurative uses. In art and technical drawing, it means filling a shape or area with repeated lines to suggest shading, texture, or depth; closely spaced diagonal lines form cross-hatching. In biology, hatching is the incubation of eggs and the emergence of a young animal from its shell. The verb can also describe the gradual development of an idea, scheme, or business project, as in a startup “hatching a plan.” These meanings share an image of something gradually emerging: a line-filled area gains visual depth, a chick becomes visible, or an abstract proposal takes shape. The word is common in professional contexts, particularly drawing, printmaking, engineering, biology, and business, but it is also readily understood in general speech. Its unusual range makes it useful for describing processes in which gradual development leads to a visible result.
The technique of filling an area with repeated lines to create shading, texture, or tonal variation; also the incubation of eggs or the emergence of young animals from them.
"Subtle hatching in the corners of the drawing creates a strong impression of shadow."
The drawing sense commonly occurs in art, engraving, architecture, and technical illustration. The biological sense may refer either to the process of incubation or to the young animal's emergence.
To incubate eggs so that they hatch, or figuratively to develop an idea, plan, or project.
"The engineers spent months hatching a more efficient cooling system."
The figurative use is especially natural in professional and creative contexts. It is usually transitive, as in “hatching a plan” or “hatching an idea.”
The plural is possible but uncommon, chiefly when referring to separate groups of repeated lines or multiple instances of a process.
"The illustrator tested several different hatchings for the shadows beneath the figure."
One word can describe a chick breaking from its shell and an artist filling a drawing with lines: both involve something emerging into view.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hatching come from?
Hatching was formed in English by adding the suffix -ing to the older verb hatch. The verb hatch is of uncertain ultimate origin, although it is generally associated with an old Germanic word for opening or producing offspring. The related modern forms hatchery, hatchling, and hatchback also derive from hatch, reflecting its associations with young animals, places where eggs are incubated, and a rear opening that can be lifted.
Related word forms
How hatching is actually used
In art and technical drawing, hatching denotes repeated lines rather than solid shading. The literal biological sense is common in discussions of birds, reptiles, and artificial incubation, while the figurative sense is especially common in business, academic, and creative contexts.