patch
/pætʃ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A piece of material used to cover a hole or a weak spot: A "patch" is a small piece of material, such as cloth, leather, or rubber, used to mend or reinforce a damaged area.
- A small area differing from its surroundings: A "patch" can refer to a small, distinct area of something, such as land, color, or texture.
- A piece of material applied to the skin: A "patch" is a small piece of material containing medicine that is worn on the skin to deliver the drug into the body.
- A temporary fix or update for software: In computing, a "patch" is a small piece of code designed to update or fix a problem in a computer program.
- A short period of a particular condition: A "patch" can describe a brief, distinct period of time characterized by a specific type of weather or circumstance.
Verb:
- To mend by covering a hole with a piece of material: To "patch" something means to repair it by attaching a piece of material over the damaged part.
- To connect temporarily: To "patch" can mean to connect things, especially in telecommunications or computing, for a limited time or purpose.
- To provide with patches; to appear in patches: To "patch" can mean to cover or mark something with distinct, contrasting areas.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- He sewed a leather patch over the hole in his jeans.
- We planted a small patch of strawberries in the garden.
- She wears a nicotine patch to help her quit smoking.
- The programmer released a security patch for the application.
- We're going through a rough patch in our relationship.
Verb:
- My grandmother taught me how to patch a pair of trousers.
- The technician will patch the call through to the manager's office.
- The morning fog patched the valley in white.
Advanced Usage
"to patch things up": to try to improve a relationship or situation after a disagreement or problem.
- After their argument, they met for coffee to try and patch things up.
"to patch together": to assemble or create something hastily from various available parts or ideas.
- They managed to patch together a temporary solution from spare parts.
"not a patch on (someone/something)": (idiomatic) to be much less good than someone or something else.
- This new phone isn't a patch on my old one; the battery life is terrible.
Variants and Related Words
Patchy (adj): existing or happening in small, isolated areas; not consistent or uniform.
- The fog was patchy, clearing in some valleys but dense in others.
- His knowledge of the subject is rather patchy.
Patchwork (n): something composed of miscellaneous or incongruous parts; a type of needlework where small pieces of fabric are sewn together.
- The policy was a patchwork of compromises.
- She made a beautiful patchwork quilt.
Synonyms
- Noun: mend, repair, piece, spot, area, plot, lot, period, spell, update, fix.
- Verb: mend, repair, fix, reinforce, cover, connect.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Patch over: to cover or fix something temporarily, often in a makeshift way.
- We can patch over the crack in the pipe until the plumber arrives.
Patch into: to connect to a system, network, or conversation temporarily.
- Can you patch me into the conference call?
Related Idioms
A bad patch / A rough patch: a difficult or unlucky period of time.
- Every business goes through a rough patch now and then.
Strike a bad patch: to encounter a period of difficulty or bad luck.
- The team has struck a bad patch, losing their last five games.
Noun
- a piece of soft material that covers and protects an injured part of the body
- a protective cloth covering for an injured eye
- sewing that repairs a worn or torn hole (especially in a garment)
- her stockings had several mends
- a connection intended to be used for a limited time
- a short set of commands to correct a bug in a computer program
- a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition
- he was here for a little while
- I need to rest for a piece
- a spell of good weather
- a patch of bad weather
- a piece of cloth used as decoration or to mend or cover a hole
- a small area of ground covered by specific vegetation
- a bean plot
- a cabbage patch
- a briar patch
- a small contrasting part of something
- a bald spot
- a leopard's spots
- a patch of clouds
- patches of thin ice
- a fleck of red
Verb
- repair by adding pieces
- She pieced the china cup
- mend by putting a patch on
- patch a hole
- provide with a patch; also used metaphorically
- The field was patched with snow
- to join or unite the pieces of
- patch the skirt