patrol Hear it!

patrol Definition

pa·trol (pə trōl′)

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·trolled′, -·trol′·ling

to make a regular and repeated circuit of (an area, town, camp, etc.) in guarding or inspecting

Etymology: Fr patrouiller, altered < OFr patouiller, to paddle, puddle, patrol < pate, paw: see patois

noun

  1. the act of patrolling
  2. a person or persons patrolling
    1. a small group of soldiers sent on a mission, as for reconnaissance
    2. a group of ships, airplanes, etc. used in guarding
  4. a subdivision of a troop of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts

Etymology: Fr patrouille < the v.

patrol Related Forms

pa·trol′·ler noun

patrol Synonyms

patrol

n.

  1. A unit engaged in patrolling

    guard, watch, protection; see army 2.

  2. The action of patrolling

    guarding, watching, safeguarding, protecting, defending, escorting, convoying, scouting.

patrol Synonyms

patrol

v.

watch, walk, walk a beat, make inspection; see guard 2.

patrol Usage Examples

Object

lifeguard: Always follow the Surfer Code of Conduct: 1. Use a lifeguard patrolled beach whenever possible.

Converse of object

  • rove: Using roving patrols and listening posts and observation posts with either attached military police or organic personnel.
  • cross: How many school crossing patrols does North Lanarkshire Council operate?

Subject

lifeguard: For the beach enthusiast 3 miles of golden sands fully patrolled by lifeguards during the summer months.

Adjective modifier

  • high-visibility: Advertisement Police forces are to be asked to step up high-visibility patrols in high knife-crime areas.
  • anti-submarine: In July 1940 the Squadron started bombing raids on the Channel ports and anti-submarine patrols and continued night attacks during the winter.
  • maritime: In June 1997 DERA initiated concept studies into using UAVs for transport, naval airborne early warning ( AEW ) and maritime patrol.
  • routine: At that moment a RNLI rib arrived on a routine patrol.
  • visible: Ch Insp Graeme Drayton continued: Public demand for visible patrols has never been greater.

Modifies a noun

  • no-fly: U.S. and British jets patrol no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq to protect Kurdish and Shiite groups against Iraqi government forces.
  • sergeant: Karen Berrisford ( 32 ) has been promoted to Sergeant and has taken up her new post as patrol sergeant in Hanley.
  • boat: Time begins to run out with the patrol boat on its way.

Noun used with modifier

  • visibility: Extra officers on high visibility patrols showed everyone we were there to help them.
  • anti-poaching: It has also led to the deaths of some members of anti-poaching patrols in China.
  • truancy: Electronic registers, swipe cards and truancy patrols improve registration.
  • reconnaissance: Coastal Command aircraft were flying North Sea reconnaissance patrols.
  • lifeguard: Remember that the lifeguard patrol will normally be your quickest means of access to other emergency services.
  • lifeguards/police: Great care & attention is paid to litter collection, & lifeguards/police patrols operate in the most popular spots.

Preposition: under

rhododendron: The island also offers some excellent sport from the carp, which patrol under the Rhododendrons.

Preposition: by

lifeguard: For the beach enthusiast 3 miles of golden sands fully patrolled by lifeguards during the summer months.