patch (pætʃ
)
Definitions
noun
- a piece of material used to mend a garment or to make patchwork, a sewn-on pocket, etc
- ((as modifier) ⇒
a patch pocket
- a small piece, area, expanse, etc
- a small plot of land
- its produce ⇒
a patch of cabbages
- a district for which particular officials, such as social workers or policemen, have responsibility ⇒
he's a problem that's on your patch, John
- pathology any discoloured area on the skin, mucous membranes, etc, usually being one sign of a specific disorder
- medicine
- a protective covering for an injured eye
- any protective dressing
- an imitation beauty spot, esp one made of black or coloured silk, worn by both sexes, esp in the 18th century
- Also called flashUS an identifying piece of fabric worn on the shoulder of a uniform, on a vehicle, etc
- a small contrasting section or stretch ⇒
a patch of cloud in the blue sky
- a scrap; remnant
- computing a small set of instructions to correct or improve a computer program
- Australian informal the insignia of a motorcycle club or gang
- See a bad patch
- See not a patch on
verb (tr)
- to mend or supply (a garment, etc) with a patch or patches
- to put together or produce with patches
- (of material) to serve as a patch to
- (often foll by up) to mend hurriedly or in a makeshift way
- (often foll by up) to make (up) or settle (a quarrel)
- to connect (electric circuits) together temporarily by means of a patch board
- (usually foll by through) to connect (a telephone call) by means of a patch board
- computing to correct or improve (a program) by adding a small set of instructions
Alternative Forms
ˈpatchable adjective ˈpatcher noun Word Origin
C16 pacche, perhaps from French piechepiece
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
reinforcement,
piece of fabric piece of cloth piece of material piece sewn on
