patch

1 noun (C)

1 PART OF AN AREA a part of an area that is different or looks different from the parts that surround it: Lost: a small dog, white with brown patches. | patch of dirt/grease/damp etc: Watch out for icy patches on the roads. | patch of light/sky etc: Patches of blue sky peeked through the clouds.

2 OVER A HOLE a small piece of material used to cover a hole in something: a jacket with leather patches at the elbows

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

4 ON YOUR EYE a piece of material that you wear over your eye to protect it when it has been hurt

5 DECORATION a small piece of cloth with words or pictures on it that you can stitch onto clothes

6 a bad/difficult/sticky patch informal especially BrE a period of time when you are having a lot of difficulty: Gemma's going through a bad patch right now.

7 sb's patch BrE informal an area that someone knows very well because they work or live there; turf 1 (4) AmE: The boss knows everything that's going on in our patch.

8 not be a patch on BrE informal to be much less attractive, good etc than something or someone else: She's no great beauty - not a patch on Maria.

9 good/interesting/boring etc in patches especially BrE good etc in some parts, but not all the time

2 verb (T) to put a piece of cloth over a hole, especially in a piece of clothing patch sth together phrasal verb (T) to make something quickly or carelessly from a number of different pieces or ideas: A new plan was quickly patched together. patch sth/sb up phrasal verb (T)

1 to end an argument because you want to stay friendly with someone: Try to patch up your differences before he leaves. | patch it up (with): I've patched it up with the landlord.

2 to repair something by adding a new piece of material to it: We'd better patch up the roof - we can't afford a new one.

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