auto-latching
adjectiveUK /ˌɔːtəʊ ˈlætʃɪŋ/
US /ˌɔːtoʊ ˈlætʃɪŋ/
Closing and locking by itself when you shut it.
The auto-latching gate clicked shut behind the dog.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A mechanism that fastens automatically when two parts come together.
The auto-latching buckle snapped into place as soon as the straps met.
3. Describing a safety feature that locks a device without anyone pressing a button.
The auto-latching car seat base locks itself onto the anchor points.
4. A design in which a hook or catch holds something shut on its own.
The auto-latching hook kept the gate from swinging open in the wind.