patch

A small area that looks different from the area around it.

• There is a wet patch on the floor.
• Small patches of snow remained in the garden.
• We planted flowers in a sunny patch beside the house.

How to use it: patch of something (A patch of blue sky appeared above us.)

Similar words: area, spot

Common phrases: patch of grass, damp patch, bare patch

A small piece of material attached to clothes to cover a hole or add decoration.

• She sewed a patch onto her jeans.
• His jacket has leather patches on the elbows.
• I chose a bright patch to cover the hole.

Common phrases: elbow patch, sew a patch, decorative patch

A small software update that fixes a problem in a computer program.

• Please install the latest security patch.
• The company released a patch for the game.
• These patches fix several problems in the software.

Similar words: software fix

Common phrases: security patch, install a patch, software patch

A period of time when things happen in a particular way, often badly.

• They are going through a rough patch.
• The team hit a bad patch last winter.
• Their marriage survived that difficult patch.

How to use it: go through a rough patch (Our business is going through a rough patch.)

Similar words: period, spell

Common phrases: rough patch, bad patch, difficult patch

A small cover worn over an injured eye or an eye that needs protection.

• He wears a patch over one eye.
• The doctor told her to keep the patch on.
• The pirate costume came with a black eye patch.

Similar words: eyepatch

Common phrases: eye patch, wear a patch, black patch

A small piece of material put over a hole or damaged part to repair it.

• A rubber patch covered the hole.
• We put a metal patch over the damaged pipe.
• The roof needs a new patch before it rains.

Common phrases: rubber patch, apply a patch, repair patch

To repair a hole by attaching a small piece of material over it.

• Can you patch these jeans?
• She patched the hole in her jacket.
• We need to patch the tire before we leave.

How to use it: patch something with something (He patched the tent with a piece of waterproof fabric.)

Similar words: mend, repair

Common phrases: patch a hole, patch a tire, patch a jacket

To repair something that is damaged, often enough to make it usable again.

• We patched the hole in the wall.
• He patched up the roof after the storm.
• Can they patch this old boat up?

How to use it: patch something up (The mechanic patched the old car up.)

Similar words: fix, repair, mend

Opposites: damage

Common phrases: patch something up, patch a wall, patch a hole