patch (patches plural & 3rd person present) (patching present participle) (patched past tense & past participle )
1 n-count A patch on a surface is a part of it which is different in appearance from the area around it.
usu with supp
...the bald patch on the top of his head..., There was a small patch of blue in the grey clouds.
2 n-count A patchof land is a small area of land where a particular plant or crop grows.
with supp, oft N of n
...a patch of land covered in forest., ...the little vegetable patch in her backyard.
3 n-count A patch is a piece of material which you use to cover a hole in something.
...jackets with patches on the elbows.
4 n-count A patch is a small piece of material which you wear to cover an injured eye.
She went to the hospital and found him lying down with a patch over his eye.
→
eye patch
5 verb If you patch something that has a hole in it, you mend it by fastening a patch over the hole.
He and Walker patched the barn roof... V n
...their patched clothes. V-ed
6 n-count A patch is a piece of computer program code written as a temporary solution for dealing with a virus in computer software and distributed by the makers of the original program. (COMPUTING)
Older machines will need a software patch to be loaded to correct the date.
7 If you have or go through a bad patch or a rough patch, you have a lot of problems for a time.
(mainly BRIT)
a bad patch/a rough patch phrase N inflects
His marriage was going through a bad patch...
8 If you say that someone or something is not a patch on another person or thing, you mean that they are not as good as that person or thing.
(BRIT)
INFORMAL
not a patch on sb/sth phrase v-link PHR, PHR n
Handsome, she thought, but not a patch on Alex. patch up
1 phrasal verb If you patch up a quarrel or relationship, you try to be friendly again and not to quarrel any more.
She has gone on holiday with her husband to try to patch up their marriage... V P n (not pron)
He has now patched up his differences with the Minister... V P n (not pron) with n
France patched things up with New Zealand... V n P with n
They managed to patch it up. V n P
2 phrasal verb If you patch up something which is damaged, you mend it or patch it.
We can patch up those holes... V P n (not pron), Also V n P
3 phrasal verb If doctors patch someone up or patch their wounds up, they treat their injuries. ...the medical staff who patched her up after the accident... V n P Emergency surgery patched up his face. V P n (not pron)
eye patch (eye patches plural )An eye patch is a piece of material which you wear over your eye when you have damaged or injured it. n-count
