n. 1
A small, usually contrasting but always somehow different or distinct, part of something else (location, time, size)
Doesn't that patch of clouds looks like a bunny?
n. 2
A piece of cloth, or other suitable material, sewed or otherwise fixed upon a garment to repair or strengthen it, especially upon an old garment to cover a hole.
His sleeves had patches on the elbows where different fabric had been sewn on to replace material that had worn away.
n. 3
A small piece of anything used to repair damage or a breach; as, a patch on a kettle, a roof, etc.
I can't afford to replace the roof, which is what it really needs. I'll have the roofer apply a patch.
n. 4
A piece of any size, used to repair something for a temporary period only, or that it is temporary because it is not meant to last long or will be removed as soon as a proper repair can be made, which will happen in the near future.
Before you can fix a dam, you have to apply a patch to the hole so that everything can dry off.

Related words

Word family: patchboard patchwork patchy
Phrases: patch up soul patch bald patch surface patch yellow patch brier patch

Forms

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (area³ = 3 syllables).