26984 words

patches

14 definitions • 18 examples
1
a small area that is different in some way from the area that surrounds it:

Examples:

Our dog has a black patch on his back.
The hotel walls were covered in damp patches.
There were lots of icy patches on the road this morning.
This story is good in patches (= some parts are good), but I wouldn't really recommend it.
2
a local area within which someone works:

Examples:

He's been working as a policeman on the same patch for 20 years.
3
a small piece of material sewn or stuck over something to cover it:

Examples:

I'll have to sew a patch onto these jeans - they're ripped at the knee.
4
a small piece of cloth with words or a picture on it, that can be sewn onto clothes to show who you are, your rank, that you are a member of a particular group or organization, etc.:

Examples:

a shirt with a US flag patch sewn onto the right shoulder
His black jacket has a black-and-silver patch bearing the school's Latin motto.
5
a small piece of material that can be stuck to the skin, from which particular substances can be absorbed into the body:

Examples:

Some people wear nicotine patches to help them give up smoking.
6
an
7
a small computer program that can be added to an existing program in order to make the existing program work as it should:

Examples:

I downloaded a patch from their website.
8
to connect electronic or phone equipment to a system
9
to put a patch on something
10
to solve a problem that a computer system or program has:

Examples:

They issued an update to patch the bug.
11
a small part of a surface that is different in some way from the area around it:

Examples:

Watch for patches of ice on the road.
12
a piece of material put over a damaged area or hole to repair, strengthen, or cover it:

Examples:

His old jeans are covered with patches.
13
a small computer program that can repair a problem with software:

Examples:

You can download a patch to fix the problem.
14
to experience a lot of problems in a short period of time:

Examples:

Economically, the country is going through a bad patch.
The company hit a rough patch last year, which included its first quarterly loss since going public.

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