patch

patch

patch¹ [pach]

n.

[ME pacche, prob. var. of peche, a piece < OFr pieche, var. of pece, piece,PIECE]

1. a piece of material applied to cover or mend a hole or tear or to strengthen a weak spot

2. a dressing applied to a wound or sore

3. a pad or shield worn over an eye, as for protection

4. a surface area differing from its surroundings in nature or appearance [patches of snow on the ground]

5. a small plot of ground [a potato patch]

6.

a) a small piece of any material; scrap; bit; remnant

b) BEAUTY SPOT (sense 1)

7. the connection of two circuits, pieces of electronic equipment, etc. with a cable (patch cord) having plugs or clips on each end, specif. such a connection ( phone patch) of telephone and radio equipment

8. SHOULDER PATCH

9. Comput. a number of instructions added to a program that has already been translated into machine language, as to correct an error

10. Pharmacy an adhesive pad containing a drug or hormone that is to be steadily absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream

vt.

1. to put a patch or patches on

2. to serve as a patch for

3. to form or make by the use of patches [to patch a quilt]

4. to produce or piece together roughly, crudely, or hurriedly: often with up or together

5. to connect (electronic circuits, equipment, etc.), as with patch cords

vi.

to make electronic connections, as with patch cords

SYN.- MEND

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not a patch on

Informal not as good as; not comparable or equal to [the second half is not a patch on the earlier sections]

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patch up

to bring to an end or settle (differences, a quarrel, etc.)

patcher

n.

patch² [pach]

n.

[prob. < It paccheo, dial. var. of pazzo, crazy (< ? L patiens, sick: see PATIENT): altered by assoc. with PATCH¹] Archaic

1. a court jester

2. any clown or fool