◙ noun 1. a piece of cloth or other material used to mend or strengthen a torn or weak point • 补丁，补片 a pad or shield worn over a sightless or injured eye or an eye socket • （保护病伤眼睛用的）眼罩 a piece of cloth sewn on to clothing as a badge or distinguishing mark • 臂章 [Computing] a small piece of code inserted into a program to improve its functioning or to correct a fault • [计算机] （用来改善功能或改正错误的）插入码 an adhesive piece of drug-impregnated material worn on the skin so that the drug may be absorbed gradually over a period of time • 膏药 (on an animal or bird) an area of hair or plumage different in colour from that on most of the rest of the body • （鸟兽皮毛的）异色斑 a part of something marked out from the rest by a particular characteristic • 斑，与周围不同的部分 »his hair was combed forward to hide a growing bald patch. 他的头发梳向前面以遮盖逐渐变大的秃顶。 a small area or amount of something • 碎片；碎屑 »patches of bluebells in the grass. 草地上一片片的野风信子。 (historical)a small disc of black silk attached to the face, especially as worn by women in the 17th and 18th centuries for adornment • [史] （尤指17、18世纪妇女装饰用的）饰颜片，美人斑 2. a small piece of ground, especially one used for gardening • （尤指园艺用的）一小块地 »they spent Sundays digging their vegetable patch. 他们利用星期天来翻小片菜地。 [Brit. informal] an area for which someone is responsible or in which they operate • [英，非正式] 管辖区 »we didn't want any secret organizations on our patch. 我们不想让我们的地盘上存在任何秘密组织。 3. [Brit. informal] a period of time seen as a distinct unit with a characteristic quality • [英，非正式] 期间，一段时间 »he may have been going through a bad patch. 他这一段时间以来可能不太走运。 4. a temporary electrical or telephone connection • （电气或电话的）临时连接（线） a preset configuration or sound data file in an electronic musical instrument, especially a synthesizer • （尤指电子和声乐器中的）预设（或声音）数据文件 ◙ verb, [with obj.] 1. mend or strengthen (fabric or an item of clothing) by putting a piece of material over a hole or weak point in it • 补缀，修补 »her jeans were neatly patched. 她的牛仔裤补得很整齐。 [Medicine] place a patch over (a good eye) in order to encourage a lazy eye to work • [医] 掩盖（视力好的）一只眼睛（以便弱视的那只眼睛能更好地发挥作用） [Computing] correct, enhance, or modify (a routine or program) by inserting a patch • [计算机] 修补，拼凑，对（程序）作权益性的修改 [一般作 be patched] cover small areas of (a surface) with something different, causing it to appear variegated • 在…出现斑块 »the grass was patched with sandy stretches. 草地上出现一条条的沙带。 (patch someone/thing up)[informal] treat someone's injuries or repair the damage to something, especially hastily • [非正式] 医治；修补；草草修理 »they did their best to patch up the gaping wounds. 他们竭尽所能医治张开的伤口。 (patch something together)construct something hastily from unsuitable components • 拼凑；匆匆制成 »lean-tos patched together from aluminium siding and planks. 用铝制壁板和厚木板草草搭建的披棚。 »they were trying to patch together an arrangement for cooperation. 他们试图拼凑一个合作协议。 (patch something up)[informal] restore peaceful or friendly relations after a quarrel or dispute • [非正式] 恢复（关系)，和解 »any ill feeling could be patched up with a phone call. 一个电话就可能化解任何的恶感。 »they sent him home to patch things up with his wife. 他们送他回家与妻子和解。 2. [with obj. and adverbial] connect by a temporary electrical, radio, or telephonic connection • 临时性连接 » patch me through to number nine. 给我接通九号线。 [no obj., with adverbial] become connected in this way • 用插接线连接 »stay on the open line and we'll patch in on you. 呆在空线上不要挂断，我们会用插接线与你连接。
【IDIOMS】
◘ not a patch on 1. [Brit. informal] greatly inferior to • [英，非正式] 比不上，远不如 »he no longer looked so handsome—he wasn't a patch on Peter. 看上去他已不再那么英俊，远比不上彼得。
【派生】
♦ patcher noun
【语源】
1. late Middle English: perhaps from a variant of Old French pieche, dialect variant of piece 'piece'