Dictionary entries for 'patch'

Synonyms

patch¹ (păch)

[Middle English pacche, perhaps alteration of pece, pieche, piece; see piece.]

noun

1. A small piece of material affixed to another, larger piece to conceal, reinforce, or repair a worn area, hole, or tear.
2. A small piece of cloth used for patchwork.
A small cloth badge affixed to a garment as a decoration or an insignia, as of a military unit.
1. A dressing or covering applied to protect a wound or sore.
2. A pad or shield of cloth worn over an eye socket or an injured eye.
3. A transdermal patch.
See beauty spot
1. A small piece, part, or section, especially that which differs from or contrasts with the whole: a patch of thin ice; patches of sunlight.
2. A small plot or piece of land, especially one that produces or is used for growing specific vegetation: a briar patch; a bean patch.
An indefinite period of time; a spell: weathered a difficult patch after losing his job.
A temporary, removable electronic connection, as one between two components in a communications system.
Computer Science A piece of code added to software in order to fix a bug, especially as a temporary correction between two releases.

To put a patch or patches on.
To make by sewing scraps of material together: patch a quilt.
To mend, repair, or put together, especially hastily, clumsily, or poorly: They patched together the broken statues with glue and plaster. The delegates will be forced to patch up their differences.
To connect temporarily (electronic components), as with a patch cord.
Computer Science To correct a bug in (an item of software), especially as a temporary correction between releases.

patch² (păch)

[Perhaps from Italian dialectal paccio, from Old Italian.]

beauty spot

A mole or birthmark. Also called beauty mark
A small black mark penciled or glued on a woman's face or shoulders to accentuate the fairness of her skin or to conceal a blemish. Also called beauty mark, patch¹
A location noted for its beauty.