Definition

1. Noun:

   • A piece of material used to cover a hole or a weak spot: A "patch" is a small piece of material, such as cloth, leather, or rubber, used to mend or reinforce a damaged area.
   • A small area differing from its surroundings: A "patch" can refer to a small, distinct area of something, such as land, color, or texture.
   • A piece of material applied to the skin: A "patch" is a small piece of material containing medicine that is worn on the skin to deliver the drug into the body.
   • A temporary fix or update for software: In computing, a "patch" is a small piece of code designed to update or fix a problem in a computer program.
   • A short period of a particular condition: A "patch" can describe a brief, distinct period of time characterized by a specific type of weather or circumstance.

2. Verb:

   • To mend by covering a hole with a piece of material: To "patch" something means to repair it by attaching a piece of material over the damaged part.
   • To connect temporarily: To "patch" can mean to connect things, especially in telecommunications or computing, for a limited time or purpose.
   • To provide with patches; to appear in patches: To "patch" can mean to cover or mark something with distinct, contrasting areas.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He sewed a leather patch over the hole in his jeans.
  • We planted a small patch of strawberries in the garden.
  • She wears a nicotine patch to help her quit smoking.
  • The programmer released a security patch for the application.
  • We're going through a rough patch in our relationship.

• Verb:

  • My grandmother taught me how to patch a pair of trousers.
  • The technician will patch the call through to the manager's office.
  • The morning fog patched the valley in white.

Advanced Usage

• "to patch things up": to try to improve a relationship or situation after a disagreement or problem.

  • After their argument, they met for coffee to try and patch things up.

• "to patch together": to assemble or create something hastily from various available parts or ideas.

  • They managed to patch together a temporary solution from spare parts.

• "not a patch on (someone/something)": (idiomatic) to be much less good than someone or something else.

  • This new phone isn't a patch on my old one; the battery life is terrible.

Variants and Related Words

• Patchy (adj): existing or happening in small, isolated areas; not consistent or uniform.

  • The fog was patchy, clearing in some valleys but dense in others.
  • His knowledge of the subject is rather patchy.

• Patchwork (n): something composed of miscellaneous or incongruous parts; a type of needlework where small pieces of fabric are sewn together.

  • The policy was a patchwork of compromises.
  • She made a beautiful patchwork quilt.

Synonyms

• Noun: mend, repair, piece, spot, area, plot, lot, period, spell, update, fix.
• Verb: mend, repair, fix, reinforce, cover, connect.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Patch over: to cover or fix something temporarily, often in a makeshift way.

  • We can patch over the crack in the pipe until the plumber arrives.

• Patch into: to connect to a system, network, or conversation temporarily.

  • Can you patch me into the conference call?

Related Idioms

• A bad patch / A rough patch: a difficult or unlucky period of time.

  • Every business goes through a rough patch now and then.

• Strike a bad patch: to encounter a period of difficulty or bad luck.

  • The team has struck a bad patch, losing their last five games.

Noun

1. a piece of soft material that covers and protects an injured part of the body
2. a protective cloth covering for an injured eye
3. sewing that repairs a worn or torn hole (especially in a garment)
   • her stockings had several mends
4. a connection intended to be used for a limited time
5. a short set of commands to correct a bug in a computer program
6. a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition
   • he was here for a little while
   • I need to rest for a piece
   • a spell of good weather
   • a patch of bad weather
7. a piece of cloth used as decoration or to mend or cover a hole
8. a small area of ground covered by specific vegetation
   • a bean plot
   • a cabbage patch
   • a briar patch
9. a small contrasting part of something
   • a bald spot
   • a leopard's spots
   • a patch of clouds
   • patches of thin ice
   • a fleck of red

Verb

1. repair by adding pieces
   • She pieced the china cup
2. mend by putting a patch on
   • patch a hole
3. provide with a patch; also used metaphorically
   • The field was patched with snow
4. to join or unite the pieces of
   • patch the skirt