patch

patch1 [ pætʃ ] noun count **

▸ 1 piece of cloth

▸ 2 different part of something

▸ 3 piece of ground

▸ 4 piece of software

▸ 5 with nicotine

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) a piece of cloth that you sew over a hole in clothes, or over a part where holes might form:

She wore a sweater with patches on the elbows.

a ) a cover that you wear over an injured eye:

an eye patch

b ) a small piece of cloth with a design on it that you sew onto clothes for decoration:

She had sewn colorful patches on her jeans.

2. ) an area that is different from what surrounds it:

Icy patches are likely on some roads.

The male has a distinctive white patch on its tail.

There were damp patches on the ceiling.

patch of: We sat down in a patch of shade.

a ) a bald patch a place on someone's head where hair no longer grows, or a surface that has some parts missing, for example an area of grass or a carpet

b ) in patches in some parts only:

The play was good in patches.

3. ) a piece of ground, especially one where you grow fruit or vegetables, or where a particular plant grows:

the carrot patch

a patch of nettles/grass/scrub

The lawn was just a tiny patch of grass.

a ) MAINLY BRITISH INFORMAL an area that someone thinks of as belonging to them, for example because they live or work there: TURF

4. ) COMPUTING a piece of software that you add to a computer program in order to improve it or remove a fault:

You can download this patch from our web site.

5. ) a NICOTINE PATCH

(go through) a bad/sticky/difficult/rough patch

to experience a period of time in your life that is difficult or unpleasant:

All marriages have their rough patches.

patch

patch 2 [ pætʃ ] verb transitive

to cover a hole in clothes by sewing a patch over it

,patch `through phrasal verb transitive

patch someone through to allow someone speaking to you on a phone or radio to speak to someone else:

I'm just patching you through now.

,patch to`gether phrasal verb transitive

to make something quickly and often carelessly by putting together various objects or ideas:

We managed to patch together an impromptu evening's entertainment.

,patch `up phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to become friends with someone again after a disagreement:

The meeting was intended to patch up relations between the two sides.

patch it/things up (with someone): Isn't it time you two patched it up?

Apparently, they've since patched things up with their father.

2. ) to repair something, often quickly and not very well:

The road needs resurfacing, not just patching up.

3. ) to give basic medical treatment to someone who is injured:

The nurses managed to patch her up temporarily.