hatchling
Noun: A very young animal that has recently emerged from its egg. This term is most commonly applied to baby birds, but it can refer to any animal born from an egg, such as reptiles, fish, or insects.
The word "hatchling" is used to specify the earliest life stage of an oviparous (egg-laying) animal, immediately after hatching. It emphasizes the newness and fragility of the animal. - It is typically used in biological, zoological, or casual wildlife contexts. - It functions as a countable noun (e.g., a hatchling, three hatchlings).
- The mother turtle dug a nest in the sand and waited for her hatchlings to emerge.
- We observed the hatchling struggling to break free from its eggshell.
- The zoo has a special incubator for reptile hatchlings.
- The bird hatchlings were completely dependent on their parents for food.
- Collective Reference: The term can be used collectively for a group of animals from the same brood or nest.
- The entire hatchling of sea turtles made their perilous journey to the ocean.
- Hatch (verb): To emerge from an egg.
- Hatching (noun): The process of emerging from an egg; also a technique in drawing.
- Nestling (noun): A young bird that is still in the nest. A nestling may be slightly older than a hatchling.
- Fledgling (noun): A young bird that has just grown the feathers needed for flight. This is a developmental stage after being a hatchling and nestling.
- Newborn (though this is more general, not specific to egg-laying)
- Chick (specific to birds)
- Nestling (for birds still in the nest)
- Adult
- Mature animal
Note: "Hatchling" itself is not commonly used in idioms. However, the process it describes is. - To hatch a plan: This idiom uses the verb "hatch" metaphorically and is unrelated to the noun "hatchling." It means to devise a plan secretly.
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any recently hatched animal (especially birds)
