ENGLISH
REFERENCE

patchy

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpætʃi// UK //pˈætʃi// patchy

adj. having areas of different qualities or colors that do not mix well. You use this to describe things like weather, skin, or a surface that is not smooth or even.

adj. consisting of uneven or inconsistent areas; lacking uniformity or continuity. Often describes physical surfaces, weather conditions, or data sets.


SIMPLE

The weather is patchy today with some clouds and some sun.

CONTEXTUAL

The old carpet has a patchy appearance because the dye faded in some spots but not others.

COMPLEX

The satellite signal was patchy throughout the flight, causing intermittent disruptions to the onboard internet connection as the aircraft moved through different atmospheric layers.

Origin

From patch + -y.

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