Main Entry: ¹patch

Pronunciation: \ˈpach\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English pacche

Date: 14th century

1 : a piece of material used to mend or cover a hole or a weak spot
2 : a tiny piece of black silk or court plaster worn on the face or neck especially by women to hide a blemish or to heighten beauty
3 a : a piece of material (as adhesive plaster) used medically usually to cover a wound b : a usually disk-shaped piece of material that is worn on the skin and contains a substance (as a drug) that is absorbed at a constant rate through the skin into the bloodstream <a nicotine patch> c : a shield worn over the socket of an injured or missing eye
4 a : a small piece : scrap b : a part or area distinct from that about it <cabbage patch> c : a period of time : spell <was going through a rough patch>
5 : someone or something equal or comparable —usually used in negative constructions <the new chairman isn't a patch on his predecessor>
6 : a piece of cloth sewed on a garment as an ornament or insignia; especially : shoulder patch
7 : a temporary connection in a communication system (as a telephone hookup)
8 : a minor correction or modification in a computer program