patch Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a small contrasting part of something
    speckle; spot; maculation; fleck; dapple.
    • a bald spot
    • a leopard's spots
    • a patch of clouds
    • patches of thin ice
    • a fleck of red
  2. noun a small area of ground covered by specific vegetation
    plot; plot of land; plot of ground.
    • a bean plot
    • a cabbage patch
    • a briar patch
  3. noun a piece of cloth used as decoration or to mend or cover a hole
  4. noun a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition
    spell; while; piece.
    • he was here for a little while
    • I need to rest for a piece
    • a spell of good weather
    • a patch of bad weather
  5. noun a short set of commands to correct a bug in a computer program
  6. noun a connection intended to be used for a limited time
    temporary hookup.
  7. noun sewing that repairs a worn or torn hole (especially in a garment)
    mend; darn.
    • her stockings had several mends
  8. noun a protective cloth covering for an injured eye
    eyepatch.
  9. noun a piece of soft material that covers and protects an injured part of the body
    bandage.
  10. verb to join or unite the pieces of
    piece.
    • patch the skirt
  11. verb provide with a patch; also used metaphorically
    • The field was patched with snow
  12. verb mend by putting a patch on
    patch up.
    • patch a hole
  13. verb repair by adding pieces
    piece.
    • She pieced the china cup

WordNet

Patch noun
Etymology
OE. pacche; of uncertain origin, perh. for placche; cf. Prov. E. platch patch, LG. plakk, plakke.
Definitions
  1. A piece of cloth, or other suitable material, sewed or otherwise fixed upon a garment to repair or strengthen it, esp. upon an old garment to cover a hole.
    Patches set upon a little breach. Shak.
  2. Hence: A small piece of anything used to repair a breach; as, a patch on a kettle, a roof, etc.
  3. A small piece of black silk stuck on the face, or neck, to hide a defect, or to heighten beauty.
    Your black patches you wear variously. Beau. & Fl.
  4. (Gun.) A piece of greased cloth or leather used as wrapping for a rifle ball, to make it fit the bore.
  5. Fig.: Anything regarded as a patch; a small piece of ground; a tract; a plot; as, scattered patches of trees or growing corn.
    Employed about this patch of ground. Bunyan.
  6. (Mil.) A block on the muzzle of a gun, to do away with the effect of dispart, in sighting.
  7. A paltry fellow; a rogue; a ninny; a fool. Obs. or Colloq. "Thou scurvy patch." Shak.
Patch transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Patched ; present participle & verbal noun Patching
Definitions
  1. To mend by sewing on a piece or pieces of cloth, leather, or the like; as, to patch a coat.
  2. To mend with pieces; to repair with pieces festened on; to repair clumsily; as, to patch the roof of a house.
  3. To adorn, as the face, with a patch or patches.
    Ladies who patched both sides of their faces. Spectator.
  4. To make of pieces or patches; to repair as with patches; to arrange in a hasty or clumsy manner; -- generally with up; as, to patch up a truce. "If you'll patch a quarrel." Shak.

Webster 1913