patch
[noun]
Synonyms:
- reinforcement
- spot, bit, scrap, shred, small piece
- plot, area, ground, land, tract
[verb]
Synonyms:
- mend, cover, reinforce, repair, sew up

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. patch¹ /pætʃ/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: Perhaps from Old French pieche 'piece']

1. PART OF AN AREA a small area of something that is different from the area around it
patch of
We finally found a patch of grass to sit down on.
Belinda watched a patch of sunlight move slowly across the wall.
Look out for icy patches on the road.
a cat with a white patch on its chest
He combs his hair over his bald patch.

2. OVER A HOLE a small piece of material that is sewn on something to cover a hole in it:
a jacket with leather patches at the elbows

3. FOR GROWING SOMETHING a small area of ground for growing fruit or vegetables:
a strawberry patch

4. COMPUTER a small computer program that is added to software to solve problems

5. EYE a piece of material that you wear over your eye to protect it when it has been hurt:
He had a black patch over one eye.

6. DECORATION American English a small piece of cloth with words or pictures on it that you can sew onto clothes Synonym : badge British English

7. a bad/difficult/sticky/rough patch informal a period of time when you are having a lot of difficulty:
Gemma’s going through a bad patch right now.

8. sb’s patch British English informal an area that someone knows very well because they work or live there Synonym : turf:
Policemen know what’s going on in their home patch.

9. not be a patch on somebody/something British English informal to be much less attractive, good etc than something or someone else:
The second film isn’t a patch on the first.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. patch² (also patch up) verb [transitive + with]
to repair a hole in something by putting a piece of something else over it
patch something ↔ together phrasal verb
to make something quickly or carelessly from a number of different pieces or ideas:
A new plan was quickly patched together.
patch something/somebody ↔ up phrasal verb

1. to end an argument because you want to stay friendly with someone:
Try to patch up your differences before he leaves.
patch it/things up (with somebody)
He went back to patch things up with his wife.

2. to repair a hole in something by putting a piece of something else over it:
We’ll have to patch up the hole in the roof.

3. to give quick and basic medical treatment to someone who is hurt:
We patched up the wounded as best we could.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

patch
noun
I. material over a hole
VERB + PATCH have Her trousers have patches all over them.
sew on
PREP. ~ on dancers with patches on their costumes

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

patch
II. part of a surface that is different
ADJ. irregular | clear, coloured, dark | damp, wet | icy icy patches on the roads
bald He has a small bald patch on the crown of his head.
rough, sore
PREP. in ~es The velvet curtains were faded in patches.
~ of There were some patches of clear blue sky.
~ on A large damp patch had appeared on the ceiling.
PHRASES a patch of colour flowers providing little bright patches of colour around the garden

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

patch
III. piece of land
ADJ. isolated an isolated patch of forest
cabbage, potato, vegetable
PREP. in a/the ~ working in his vegetable patch
on a/the ~ located on a small patch of flat ground
PHRASES a patch of grass/ground We found a nice patch of grass to sit on.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

patch
IV. period of time
ADJ. bad, difficult, rocky, rough, sticky | purple The team has hit a purple patch, with nine wins from their last ten games.
VERB + PATCH go through, have, hit Their business hit a sticky patch last year.
PREP. ~ of going through a patch of poor health

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

patch

a small/large etc patch
Some of the hills still had small patches of snow.
a white/black/red etc patch
The bird has a large black patch on each side of its neck.
a damp/wet patch
There were damp patches on the ceilings.
a bald patch
He stroked the bald patch on the back of his head .
a dark patch
She noticed two dark patches on the sleeve of his shirt.
a clear patch
Clear patches of brilliant blue sky appeared briefly through the white storm clouds.
a bright patch
Poppies and daisies provided bright patches of colour along the edge of the field.
icy patches (=on a road)
Some icy patches are likely on roads as temperatures drop tonight.
fog patches
There'll be a widespread frost with mist and one or two fog patches

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

be a patch someone
to not be as good as someone or something else

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲