(~es, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
A ~ on a surface is a part of it which is different in appearance from the area around it.
...the bald ~ on the top of his head...
There was a small ~ of blue in the grey clouds.
N-COUNT: usu with supp
2.
A ~ of land is a small area of land where a particular plant or crop grows.
...a ~ of land covered in forest.
...the little vegetable ~ in her backyard.
N-COUNT: with supp, oft N of n
3.
A ~ is a piece of material which you use to cover a hole in something.
...jackets with ~es on the elbows.
N-COUNT
4.
A ~ is a small piece of material which you wear to cover an injured eye.
She went to the hospital and found him lying down with a ~ over his eye.
N-COUNT
see also eye ~
5.
If you ~ something that has a hole in it, you mend it by fastening a ~ over the hole.
He and Walker ~ed the barn roof...
...their ~ed clothes.
VERB: V n, V-ed
6.
A ~ is a piece of computer program code written as a temporary solution for dealing with a virus in computer software and distributed by the makers of the original program. (COMPUTING)
Older machines will need a software ~ to be loaded to correct the date.
N-COUNT
7.
If you have or go through a bad ~ or a rough ~, you have a lot of problems for a time. (mainly BRIT)
His marriage was going through a bad ~...
PHRASE: N inflects
8.
If you say that someone or something is not a ~ on another person or thing, you mean that they are not as good as that person or thing. (BRIT INFORMAL)
Handsome, she thought, but not a ~ on Alex.
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR n