2 N‑COUNT A patch of land is a small area of land where a particular plant or crop grows. □ [+ of ] …a patch of land covered in forest. □ …the little vegetable patch in her backyard.
3 N‑COUNT A patch is a piece of material which you use to cover a hole in something. □ [+ on ] …jackets with patches on the elbows.
4 N‑COUNT A patch is a small piece of material which you wear to cover an injured eye. □ [+ over ] She went to the hospital and found him lying down with a patch over his eye.
5 → see also eye patch
6 VERB If you patch something that has a hole in it, you mend it by fastening a patch over the hole. □ [V n] He and Walker patched the barn roof. □ [V -ed] …their patched clothes.
7 N‑COUNT A patch is a piece of computer program code written as a temporary solution for dealing with a virus in computer software and distributed by the makers of the original program. [COMPUTING ] □ Older machines will need a software patch to be loaded to correct the date.
8 PHRASE If you have or go through a bad patch or a rough patch , you have a lot of problems for a time. [mainly BRIT ] □ I'm going through a very bad patch just now.
9 PHRASE If you say that someone or something is not a patch on another person or thing, you mean that they are not as good as that person or thing. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Handsome, she thought, but not a patch on Alex.
▸ patch up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you patch up a quarrel or relationship, you try to be friendly again and not to quarrel any more. □ [V P n] They have gone on holiday to try to patch up their marriage. □ [V P n + with ] He has now patched up his differences with the Minister. □ [V n P + with ] I did my best to patch things up with her but it didn't seem to work. □ [V n P ] They managed to patch it up.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you patch up something which is damaged, you mend it or patch it. □ [V P n] We can patch up those holes. [Also V n P ]
3 PHRASAL VERB If doctors patch someone up or patch their wounds up , they treat their injuries. □ [V n P ] …the medical staff who patched her up after the accident. □ [V P n] Emergency surgery patched up his face.
patch|work /pæ tʃwɜː r k/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A patchwork quilt, cushion, or piece of clothing is made by sewing together small pieces of material of different colours or patterns. □ …beds covered in patchwork quilts. ● N‑UNCOUNT Patchwork is also a noun. □ For centuries, quilting and patchwork have been popular needlecrafts.
2 N‑SING If you refer to something as a patchwork , you mean that it is made up of many different parts, pieces or colours. □ [+ of ] The low mountains were a patchwork of green and brown. □ [+ of ] …this complex republic, a patchwork of cultures, religions and nationalities.
patchy /pæ tʃi/ (patchier , patchiest )
1 ADJ A patchy substance or colour exists in some places but not in others, or is thick in some places and thin in others. □ Thick patchy fog and irresponsible driving were to blame. □ …the brown, patchy grass.
2 ADJ If something is patchy , it is not completely reliable or satisfactory because it is not always good. □ The evidence is patchy.
pate /pe I t/ (pates ) N‑COUNT Your pate is the top of your head. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ …Bryan's bald pate.
pâté /pæ te I , [AM ] pɑːte I / (pâtés ) N‑VAR Pâté is a soft mixture of meat, fish, or vegetables with various flavourings, and is eaten cold.
pa|tent /pe I t ə nt, [AM ] pæ t-/ (patents , patenting , patented ) The pronunciation /pæ t ə nt/ is also used for meanings 1 and 2 in British English. 1 N‑COUNT A patent is an official right to be the only person or company allowed to make or sell a new product for a certain period of time. □ [+ on ] P&G applied for a patent on its cookies. □ [+ for ] He held a number of patents for his many innovations.
2 VERB If you patent something, you obtain a patent for it. □ [V n] He patented the idea that the atom could be split. □ [V -ed] …a patented process for disinfecting liquids.
3 ADJ You use patent to describe something, especially something bad, in order to indicate in an emphatic way that you think its nature or existence is clear and obvious. [EMPHASIS ] □ This was patent nonsense. □ …a patent lie. ● pa|tent|ly ADV □ He made his displeasure patently obvious.
pa |tent lea th|er N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Patent leather is leather which has a shiny surface. It is used to make shoes, bags, and belts. □ He wore patent leather shoes.
pa|ter|nal /pətɜː r n ə l/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Paternal is used to describe feelings or actions which are typical of those of a kind father towards his child. □ He put his hand under her chin in an almost paternal gesture.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A paternal relative is one that is related through a person's father rather than their mother. □ …my paternal grandparents.
pa|ter|nal|ism /pətɜː r nəl I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Paternalism means taking all the decisions for the people you govern, employ, or are responsible for, so that they cannot or do not have to make their own decisions. □ …the company's reputation for paternalism.