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n. 1. a. A small piece of material affixed to another, larger piece to conceal, reinforce, or repair a worn area, hole, or tear. b. A small piece of cloth used for patchwork. 2. A small cloth badge affixed to a garment as a decoration or an insignia, as of a military unit. 3. a. A dressing or covering applied to protect a wound or sore. b. A pad or shield of cloth worn over an eye socket or an injured eye. c. A transdermal patch. 4. See beauty spot. 5. a. A small piece, part, or section, especially that which differs from or contrasts with the whole: a patch of thin ice; patches of sunlight. b. A small plot or piece of land, especially one that produces or is used for growing specific vegetation: a briar patch; a bean patch. 6. An indefinite period of time; a spell: weathered a difficult patch after losing his job. 7. A temporary, removable electronic connection, as one between two components in a communications system. 8. Computers A piece of code added to software in order to fix a bug, especially as a temporary correction between two releases. v. patched, patch·ing, patch·es v.tr. 1. To put a patch or patches on: patched my pants. 2. To make by sewing scraps of material together: patch a quilt. 3. To mend, repair, or put together, especially hastily, clumsily, or poorly: They patched together the broken statues with glue and plaster. The delegates will be forced to patch up their differences. 4. To connect temporarily (electronic components), as with a patch cord. 5. Computers To correct a bug in (an item of software), especially as a temporary correction between releases. v.intr. Electronics To be connected temporarily. patcha·ble adj. patcher n. |
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