/ ˈpætʃi; NAmE / adjective
1.
existing or happening in some places and not others
SYN uneven :
patchy fog
The grass was dry and patchy.
2.
( NAmE also spotty ) not complete; good in some parts, but not in others :
a patchy knowledge of Spanish
It was a patchy performance.
► patch·ily adverb
► patchi·ness noun [ U ]