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patch

n. · v.
US //ˈpætʃ// UK //pˈætʃ// patch
  1. 1 repair material (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a small piece of material used to cover a hole or strengthen a weak part of something.

    a piece of fabric or other material used to mend a hole or reinforce a structural weakness.

    Example

    He sewed a leather patch onto the elbows of his old jacket.

    Example

    The sailor applied a temporary rubber patch to the hull to prevent further leaking until the boat reached the dry dock.
  2. 2 small area (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a small area that is different from the space around it, like a piece of land.

    a small, circumscribed area of a surface or land that differs in appearance or character from its surroundings.

    Example

    We found a sunny patch of grass in the park for our picnic.

    Example

    The gardener spent the morning weeding the vegetable patch before the heat of the afternoon made outdoor work impossible.
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  1. 3 software update (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

    a small piece of computer code used to fix a bug or improve a program.

    a set of changes to a computer program or its supporting data designed to update, fix, or improve it.

    Example

    You need to download the latest security patch to protect your computer.

    Example

    The developers released an emergency patch overnight to address a critical vulnerability that allowed unauthorised access to the database.
  2. 4 medical cover or treatment (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    a piece of material worn on the skin to protect a wound or deliver medicine.

    a protective covering for a wound or an adhesive medicated dressing that delivers a drug through the skin.

    Example

    He wore an eye patch for a week after his surgery.

    Example

    The patient was prescribed a nicotine patch to help manage withdrawal symptoms during the first month of quitting smoking.
  3. 5 a difficult time (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a short period of time that is difficult or unpleasant.

    a brief, distinct period of time characterised by a particular quality, typically a negative one.

    Example

    The couple went through a rough patch last year but they are happy now.

    Example

    The company hit a difficult patch during the recession, forcing the board to reconsider its expansion strategy for the following decade.
  4. 6 to fix a hole (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to fix something by putting a piece of material over a hole.

    to mend or strengthen by adding a piece of material; often used with 'up'.

    Example

    I need to patch these jeans before the hole gets any bigger.

    Example

    The maintenance crew worked quickly to patch the roof before the forecasted storm arrived.
  5. 7 to resolve a problem (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to fix a problem or a relationship, often in a quick or temporary way.

    to settle a quarrel or repair a relationship; typically used in the phrasal verb 'patch up'.

    Example

    They managed to patch up their differences after a long talk.

    Example

    The diplomats attempted to patch up the trade agreement, though both nations remained skeptical about the long-term viability of the compromise.
  6. 8 a fool (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    an old word for a person who is silly or not very smart.

    a person considered to be a fool or a simpleton.

    Example

    The king grew angry at the patch who dared to mock his crown.

    Example

    In the Shakespearean drama, the character is dismissed as a mere patch, though his observations often carry more weight than those of the nobles.
Etymology 1

From Middle English patche, of uncertain origin. Perhaps an alteration of earlier Middle English placche (“patch, spot, piece of cloth”), from Old English plæċċ, pleċċ (“a spot, mark, patch”), from Proto-West Germanic plakkju, from Proto-Germanic plakjō (“spot, stain”). For the loss of l compare pat from Middle English platten. Germanic cognates would then include Middle English plecke, dialectal English pleck (“plot of ground, patch”), West Frisian plak (“place, spot”), Low German Plakk, Plakke (“spot, piece, patch”), Dutch plek (“spot, place, stain, patch”), Dutch plak (“piece, slab”), Swedish plagg (“garment”), Faroese plagg (“cloth, rag”). Or, possibly a variant of Old French pieche, dialectal variant of piece (“piece”). Compare also Old Occitan petaç (“patch”).

Etymology 2

Perhaps borrowed from Italian pazzo or paggio; the form influenced by folk etymological association with patch (Etymology 1).

Word family
Idioms4 entries

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