Definition of patch
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
3a : a piece of material (such as adhesive plaster) used medically usually to cover a woundb : a usually disk-shaped piece of material that is worn on the skin and contains a substance (such as a drug) that is absorbed at a constant rate through the skin into the bloodstream a nicotine patchc : a shield worn over the socket of an injured or missing eye
4a : a small piece : scrapb : a part or area distinct from that about it cabbage patchc : 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 (such as a telephone hookup)
8 : a minor correction or modification in a computer program
From the M-W Editors
Origin and Etymology of patch
Middle English pacche
First Known Use: 14th century
patch
Definition of patch
transitive verb
1 : to mend, cover, or fill up a hole or weak spot in
2 : to provide with a patch
3a : to make of patches or fragmentsb : to mend or put together especially in hasty or shabby fashion —usually used with upc : to apply a patch to (a computer program)
4a : to connect (things, such as circuits) by a patch cordb : to connect (a person, a message, etc.) to a communication system especially temporarily they patched him into the conference call
Examples of patch in a Sentence
The fence needs to be patched.
They patched him into the conference call.
15th Century
First Known Use of patch
15th century
Synonym Discussion of patch
Origin and Etymology of patch
perhaps by folk etymology from Italian dialect paccio
First Known Use: 1549
PATCH Defined for English Language Learners
patch
Definition of patch for English Language Learners
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: to cover a hole in (something) with a piece of material
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: to connect (a person, telephone call, etc.) to a communication system especially for a short period of time
PATCH Defined for Kids
Definition of patch for Students
1 : a piece of cloth used to mend or cover a torn or worn place
2 : a small piece or area different from what is around it There is a patch of snow in the yard. Her dog has a patch of white on its head.
Definition of patch for Students
patched
;patching
: to mend or cover with a piece of cloth
patch up
: to resolve by agreement Let's forget our quarrel and patch things up.
Medical Dictionary
patch
playMedical Definition of patch
1a: a piece of material used medically usually to cover a wound or repair a defect—see patch graftb: 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 and into the bloodstream a nicotine patch—called also skin patchc: a shield worn over the socket of an injured or missing eye
2: a circumscribed region of tissue (as on the skin or in a section from an organ) that differs from the normal color or composition sometimes great white patches develop on the tongue, the cheeks, and the gums—Morris Fishbein
patch
transitive verbLearn More about patch
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See words that rhyme with patch Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for patch Spanish Central: Translation of patch Nglish: Translation of patch for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of patch for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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