patch

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈpach 

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 (such 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 (such 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 (such as a telephone hookup)

8

: a minor correction or modification in a computer program

patch

2 of 3

verb

patched; patching; patches

transitive verb

1

: to mend, cover, or fill up a hole or weak spot in

2

: to provide with a patch

3

a

: to make of patches or fragments

b

: to mend or put together especially in hasty or shabby fashion

—usually used with up

c

: to apply a patch to (a computer program)

4

a

: to connect (things, such as circuits) by a patch cord

b

: to connect (a person, a message, etc.) to a communication system especially temporarily

they patched him into the conference call

patch

3 of 3

noun (2)

: fool, dolt

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• blotch
• dot
• fleck
• speck
• spot
• stain

Verb

• repair
• fix
• rebuild

Choose the Right Synonym for patch

mend, repair, patch, rebuild mean to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective.

mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

mended the torn dress

repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

repaired the back steps

patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.

patch worn jeans

rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.

a rebuilt automobile engine

Examples of patch in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a black cat with a small patch of white next to her nose

a patch of land hardly big enough for a garden

Verb

The fence needs to be patched.

They patched him into the conference call.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

My thick Florida grass is plagued by fuzzy patches where my robomower cut imperfectly. —Anthony Karcz, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

After a sit-down interview with Bobbie Thomas, Harlow was surprised by Jenna Bush Hager with video messages from three women with vitiligo, an autoimmune condition that causes patches of skin to lose pigment. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 27 June 2025

Verb

During the 1990s, patch restrictions tightened until Nike’s sponsorship deal with Li Na. —Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Nel carries herself like a fighter, but behind that is a young woman patching over the cracks of doubt and insecurity with stubbornness and sheer will. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 26 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English pacche

Noun (2)

perhaps by folk etymology from Italian dialect paccio

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1549, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing patch

• be not a patch on
• briar patch
• oil patch
• patch cord
• patch pocket
• patch test
• patch things up
• patch together
• patch up
• shoulder patch
• soul patch

Rhymes for patch

• bache
• batch
• brach
• catch
• hatch
• latch
• mache
• match
• rach
• scratch
• snatch
• tache

Kids Definition

patch

1 of 2 noun

ˈpach 

1

: a piece of material used to mend or cover a hole, a torn place, or a weak spot

2

: a shield (as of cloth) worn over an injured eye

3

: a small piece : scrap

4

a

: a small area or plot different from its surroundings

a patch of oats

a patch of blistered skin

b

: a spot of color : blotch

5

: a piece of cloth worn (as on the shoulder of a uniform) as an ornament or insignia

patch

2 of 2 verb

1

: to mend, cover, or fill up a hole or weak spot in

2

: to provide with a patch

3

a

: to make out of patches

b

: to mend or put together especially hastily or clumsily

c

: to deal with successfully : settle

—usually used with up

patched up their differences

Medical Definition

patch

noun

ˈpach 

1

a

: a piece of material used medically usually to cover a wound or repair a defect see patch graft

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 and into the bloodstream

a nicotine patch

called also skin patch

c

: 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 verb

patchy

-ē 

adjective

patchier; patchiest