patch Hear it!

patch¹ Definition

patch (pac̸h)

noun

  1. a piece of material applied to cover or mend a hole or tear or to strengthen a weak spot
  2. a dressing applied to a wound or sore
  3. a pad or shield worn over an eye, as for protection
  4. a surface area differing from its surroundings in nature or appearance patches of snow on the ground
  5. a small plot of ground a potato patch
    1. a small piece of any material; scrap; bit; remnant
    2. beauty spot (sense )
  7. the connection of two circuits, pieces of electronic equipment, etc. with a cable (patch cord) having plugs or clips on each end, specif. such a connection (phone patch) of telephone and radio equipment
  8. shoulder patch
  9. Comput. a number of instructions added to a program that has already been translated into machine language, as to correct an error
  10. Pharmacy an adhesive pad containing a drug or hormone that is to be steadily absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream

Etymology: ME pacche, prob. var. of peche, a piece < OFr pieche, var. of pece, piece, piece

transitive verb

  1. to put a patch or patches on
  2. to serve as a patch for
  3. to form or make by the use of patches to patch a quilt
  4. to produce or piece together roughly, crudely, or hurriedly: often with up or together
  5. to connect (electronic circuits, equipment, etc.), as with patch cords

intransitive verb

to make electronic connections, as with patch cords

patch¹ Related Forms
patch′er noun
patch¹ Idioms

not a patch on

Informal not as good as; not comparable or equal to the second half is not a patch on the earlier sections

patch up

to bring to an end or settle (differences, a quarrel, etc.)

patch² Definition

patch (pac̸h)

noun

  1. a court jester
  2. any clown or fool

Etymology: prob. < It paccheo, dial. var. of pazzo, crazy (< ? L patiens, sick: see patient): altered by assoc. with patch

patch Synonyms

patch

n.

piece, mend, bit, scrap, spot, application, appliqué.

patch Synonyms

patch

v.

mend, cover, reinforce; see mend 1, repair. See syn. study at mend.

patch Telecom Definition
A quick, unscheduled fix for a bug, security hole, or other deficiency or defect in a program. Patches are incorporated into subsequent program upgrades. See also bug, bug fix, update, and upgrade.
patch Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • atheroma: Remove any calcified patches of atheroma at the anastomosis site.
  • scrub: The Dingle itself is a small patch of scrub with some grassy areas between.
  • grass: Sixteen days are allowed to transform a patch of grass into a mature garden.

Converse of object

  • install: In order for the game to run properly you must install the latest patch.
  • apply: Most of this is just applying patches from the queue.

Adjective modifier

  • bald: The sucker is fixed to a bald patch on top of the skull.
  • bare: Also bare patches of ground leave room for weeds to take root.
  • purple: May and June, I mean: the cream of the season, the golden days, the purple patch.
  • transdermal: Evaluation of contraceptive efficacy and cycle control of a transdermal contraceptive patch vs an oral contraceptive.
  • damp: Damp patches in the carpet could mean a rusting floor panel.
  • sticky: Sticky patches are placed on the back of the head.

Modifies a noun

  • Tuesday: Should Micorsoft release a patch for critical public 0-day before patch tuesday?
  • clamp: Diagram of the patch clamp technique - click on the thumbnail to enlarge.
  • reaction: Positive patch test reactions to the latex and to an aqueous extract of the leaves and latex were observed.

Noun used with modifier

  • nicotine: Others use things like nicotine patches or nicotine chewing gum.
  • veg: Also, I seem to remember having onions, garlic and spring onions last year, which did look good in the veg patch.
  • kernel: You need to get SCSI emulation working then add the DVD+RW kernel patch for your particular kernel.
  • fog: Moderate with fog patches, becoming good. stuff about me email me amazon wishlist rss feed Some of the best posts?
  • vegetable: To get more food, people would plant a vegetable patch on top of their Anderson shelter.
  • fusarium: The greatest fusarium patch infection occurs from early fall to early winter when the potassium level of tissue is approaching its lowest level.
patch Quotes

Of all those young women Not one has enquired the cause of the world Nor the modus of lunar eclipses Nor whether there be any patch left of us After we cross the infernal ripples.

—Pound, Ezra Loomis