[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/patch.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / patch [← P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/P/) # patch «patch» in Mova's school dictionary: **a small piece of material sewn or stuck over a hole or a…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech noun (a patch, patches); verb (patch, patches, patched, patching — patch up) ### meaning for a pupil 1) A patch is a small piece of material sewn or stuck over a hole or a worn place, like on the knee of jeans. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#m1) 2) A patch is a small area that looks different from what is around it, like a wet patch or a patch of ice. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#m2) 3) A patch is a small piece of land for growing things, like a vegetable patch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#m3) 4) An eye patch is a cover worn over one eye. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#m4) 5) A patch is a sticky piece put on the skin that slowly gives medicine. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#m5) 6) To patch means to mend with a patch, or to make a quick repair. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#m6) 7) To patch things up means to make friends again after an argument. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#m7) ### sense in the lessons Everyday and safety: watch out for patches of ice on paths in winter; tyres get patched when punctured; badges are sewn on as patches (like Scout and Guide badges). In science and nature: animals with patches of colour, sunny and shady patches. In feelings: «a rough patch» is a hard time; friends «patch things up». On computers, a «patch» is a small update that fixes problems. Phrases: «a patch of», «vegetable patch», «pumpkin patch», «patch up», «a rough patch», «not a patch on» (nowhere near as good as). ### examples - Mum sewed a patch on the knee of my trousers. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#x1) - Be careful of the icy patch on the path. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#x2) - We grow carrots in our vegetable patch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#x3) - The pirate wore an eye patch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#x4) - We went to the pumpkin patch to choose a pumpkin. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#x5) - The dog has a white patch over one eye. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#x6) - Dad patched the hole in my bike tyre. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#x7) - After the argument they patched things up. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#x8) - The computer needs a security patch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#x9) - ‘Here are some shoes for you to patch.’ [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/#x10) ### note Plural and verb with he/she/it: «patches». Past: «patched». «Not a patch on» (UK) means much worse than. A «patchy» thing is uneven, with bits here and there (patchy fog). ### In the corpora - [A rough patch is a hard time in a relationship, with more arguing or unhappiness, and many couples come through it.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/14-grown-ups-who-argue-and-make-up/10/) - [The glasswing butterfly has clear patches on its wings with few scales, which makes it hard to see against leaves and flowers.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/98-the-butterfly-house/12/) - [In summer the tundra has huge swarms of mosquitoes, so thick that caribou run to windy hills or snow patches to escape them.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/168-the-arctic-tundra-musk-oxen-arctic-foxes-and-the-truth-about-lemmings/14/) - [The white patches of a variegated leaf have no chlorophyll and make no food, so such plants often grow more slowly.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/251-plants-deeper-leaves-and-sunlight-how-a-tree-is-made-of-air/15/) - ["Going through a rough patch" can mean being depressed or in a mental health crisis, or simply having a hard time.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/4-illness-disability-and-babies/12/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «patch» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/patch/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.