# patch

/ˈpætʃ/ (US) · /pˈætʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/patch
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. repair material

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- He sewed a leather patch onto the elbows of his old jacket.
- The sailor applied a temporary rubber patch to the hull to prevent further leaking until the boat reached the dry dock.

### 2. small area

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- We found a sunny patch of grass in the park for our picnic.
- The gardener spent the morning weeding the vegetable patch before the heat of the afternoon made outdoor work impossible.

### 3. software update

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- You need to download the latest security patch to protect your computer.
- The developers released an emergency patch overnight to address a critical vulnerability that allowed unauthorised access to the database.

### 4. medical cover or treatment

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- He wore an eye patch for a week after his surgery.
- The patient was prescribed a nicotine patch to help manage withdrawal symptoms during the first month of quitting smoking.

### 5. a difficult time

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a short period of time that is difficult or unpleasant.

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

- The couple went through a rough patch last year but they are happy now.
- The company hit a difficult patch during the recession, forcing the board to reconsider its expansion strategy for the following decade.

### 6. to fix a hole

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- I need to patch these jeans before the hole gets any bigger.
- The maintenance crew worked quickly to patch the roof before the forecasted storm arrived.

### 7. to resolve a problem

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

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

- They managed to patch up their differences after a long talk.
- The diplomats attempted to patch up the trade agreement, though both nations remained skeptical about the long-term viability of the compromise.

### 8. a fool

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

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

For teachers: a person considered to be a fool or a simpleton.

- The king grew angry at the patch who dared to mock his crown.
- In the Shakespearean drama, the character is dismissed as a mere patch, though his observations often carry more weight than those of the nobles.

## Examples

- She sewed a leather patch onto the elbow of her jacket.
- The gardener noticed a dry patch of brown grass in the middle of the otherwise green lawn.
- After the security breach, the IT department worked through the night to deploy a critical patch that would prevent further unauthorized access to the server.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.