Mend or strengthen (fabric or an item of clothing) by putting a piece of material over a hole or weak point in it

• - her jeans were neatly patched

Place a patch over (a good eye) in order to encourage a lazy eye to work

Correct, enhance, or modify (a routine or program) by inserting a patch

Cover small areas of (a surface) with something different, causing it to appear variegated

• - the grass was patched with sandy stretches

Treat someone's injuries or repair the damage to something, esp. hastily

• - they did their best to patch up the gaping wounds

Construct something hastily from unsuitable components

• - lean-tos patched together from aluminum siding and planks

• - they were trying to patch together an arrangement for cooperation

Restore peaceful or friendly relations after a quarrel or dispute

• - any ill feeling could be patched up with a phone call

• - they sent him home to patch things up with his wife

Connect by a temporary electrical, radio, or telephonic connection

• - Ralph had patched her through to the meeting by walkie-talkie

Become connected in this way

• - stay on the open line and we'll patch in on you

A piece of cloth or other material used to mend or strengthen a torn or weak point

A pad or shield worn over a sightless or injured eye or an eye socket

A piece of cloth sewn onto clothing as a badge or distinguishing mark

A small piece of code inserted into a program to improve its functioning or to correct an error

An adhesive piece of drug-impregnated material worn on the skin so that the drug can be absorbed gradually over a period of time

(on an animal or bird) An area of hair or plumage different in color from that on most of the rest of the body

A part of something marked out from the rest by a particular characteristic

• - his hair was combed forward to hide a growing bald patch

A small area or amount of something

• - patches of bluebells in the grass

A small disk of black silk attached to the face, esp. as worn by women in the 17th and 18th centuries for adornment

A small piece of ground, esp. one used for gardening

• - they spent Sundays digging their vegetable patch

An area for which someone is responsible or in which they operate

• - we didn't want any secret organizations on our patch

A period of time seen as a distinct unit with a characteristic quality

• - he may have been going through a bad patch

A temporary electrical or telephone connection

A preset configuration or sound-data file in an electronic musical instrument, esp. a synthesizer