patch

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A fix to a program. In the past, a patch used to mean changing actual executable, machine instructions, but today more often than not, it means replacing an executable module in its entirety such as an .EXE or .DLL file. A profusion of patches to an application implies that its logic was poorly designed in the first place.

Although the term typically refers to fixing a problem, a patch may also refer to a general enhancement because the two scenarios have become blurred. For example, a security "enhancement" is often a fix for a vulnerability in the program. In addition, software vendors like to announce something new in an update other than just fixing problems. Therefore, applying patches often refers to both fixes and new features. See patch management and spaghetti code. See also MIDI patch.

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Correction or revision pasted on or stripped into an original and soldered into a printing plate. Patches are commonly used by printers to rectify last-minute mistakes and changes, so as to avoid the cost of having to create an entirely new piece of work.

A small alteration to a computer program, installed as a correction.
Although patches are most often used as bug fixes or to plug security leaks, they can also add functionality to make an aging program more competitive. Users with Internet access can usually download patches from a software publisher’s web site.

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verb

To restore to proper condition or functioning: doctor, fix, fix up, mend, overhaul, repair¹, revamp, right. Idioms: set right. See help/harm/harmless.

v

Definition: fix, mend
Antonyms: break, damage, rend, tear

1. n. A temporary addition to a piece of code, usually as a quick-and-dirty remedy to an existing bug or misfeature. A patch may or may not work, and may or may not eventually be incorporated permanently into the program. Distinguished from a diff or mod by the fact that a patch is generated by more primitive means than the rest of the program; the classical examples are instructions modified by using the front panel switches, and changes made directly to the binary executable of a program originally written in an HLL. Compare one-line fix.

2. vt. To insert a patch into a piece of code.

3. [in the Unix world] n. A diff (sense 2).

4. A set of modifications to binaries to be applied by a patching program. IBM operating systems often receive updates to the operating system in the form of absolute hexadecimal patches. If you have modified your OS, you have to disassemble these back to the source. The patches might later be corrected by other patches on top of them (patches were said to “grow scar tissue”). The result was often a convoluted patch space and headaches galore.

5. [Unix] the patch(1) program, written by Larry Wall, which automatically applies a patch (sense 3) to a set of source code.

There is a classic story of a tiger team penetrating a secure military computer that illustrates the danger inherent in binary patches (or, indeed, any patches that you can't — or don't — inspect and examine before installing). They couldn't find any trap doors or any way to penetrate security of IBM's OS, so they made a site visit to an IBM office (remember, these were official military types who were purportedly on official business), swiped some IBM stationery, and created a fake patch. The patch was actually the trapdoor they needed. The patch was distributed at about the right time for an IBM patch, had official stationery and all accompanying documentation, and was dutifully installed. The installation manager very shortly thereafter learned something about proper procedures.

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n. 1. a piece of cloth sewn onto clothing as a badge or distinguishing mark.

2. Brit.informal an area for which someone is responsible or in which they operate: we didn't want any secret organizations on our patch.

3. a temporary electrical or telephone connection.

v.

1. connect by a temporary electrical, radio, or telephonic connection: Ralph had patched her through to the meeting by walkie-talkie.

2. become connected in this way: stay on the open line and we'll patch in on you.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

1. In stone masonry, a compound used to fill natural voids or to replace chips and broken corners or edges in fabricated pieces of cut stone; applied in plastic form; mixed or selected to match the color and texture of the stone.
2. In carpentry and joinery, a piece of wood or veneer glued into a recess to replace defective portions or voids; an insert or plug.

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Filler material inserted into defects of veneers or panels for repair.

IN BRIEF: n. - Sewing that repairs a worn or torn hole (especially in a garment); A small piece of ground.

In a rock garden we foster a little patch of the wilderness that stands to us for freedom. — Jason Hill

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sign description: The C-hand is placed on the shoulder with the palm facing up.

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noun
noun, Brit, prison

Any of a number of cloth pieces sewn on to a uniform in order to identify a prisoner as an escapee. (1958 —) .
S. Mcconville He would be put on the E(scape) list and compelled to wear an easily identifiable uniform; this is known as being in patches (1980).

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a human protein encoded by a homologue of the segment polarity gene patched of Drosophila. It is a multipass transmembrane receptor for sonic hedgehog (or Shh), with a covalently linked C-terminal cholesterol molecule and a palmitoylated N-terminal cysteine residue. Patched functions through a neighboring G-protein receptor-like protein called smoothened. In the absence of Shh, Patched inhibits smoothened and thus inhibits transcription of genes for Patched, transforming growth factor β, and Wnt proteins. The Patched gene at 9q22.3 encodes a protein of 1296 amino acids. Mutations, mostly of the nonsense variety, cause an autosomal dominant naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, and are also associated with some sporadic medulloblastomas.

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Antibody induced clustering of plasma membrane molecules, usually proteins or glycoproteins. Patching can also be induced by lectins.

n

Mucus, multiple gray-white patch overlying an area of ulceration and occurring on the oral mucosa as an expression of secondary syphilis; highly infectious. See also syphilis.

For a list of words related to patch, see:

• Firearm Parts, Accessories, and Processes - patch: greased or moistened cloth formerly used as wadding for rifle ball; cloth used to clean bore of firearm
• General Technology - patch: piece of program code inserted to debug or modify existing program
• Farming and Crops - patch: small plot of ground for growing
• Stagecraft, Production, and Dramatic Structure - patch: manual or computer assignment of dimmers to channels on control board
• Gardens and Gardening Systems - patch: small garden; flower bed
• Behavior or Personality

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See words rhyming with "patcher."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Patch.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
1.
n. - lap, klud, klap, plet
v. tr. - lappe
v. intr. - lappe

idioms:

• bad patch    uheldig periode
• not be a patch on    ikke være en plet på
• patch test    lappeprøve
• patch together    lappe sammen
• patch up    lappe sammen

2.
n. - klovn

Nederlands (Dutch)
lapje, ooglap, lapje grond, periode/fase, wijk (van politieagent), insigne, bedje (van planten/bloemen), restje, directe programmawijziging (computer), moesje, dwaas, lappen, noodverbinding maken (technisch), programma direct wijzigen (computer), moesjes plakken op

Français (French)
1.
n. - insigne, rustine, pièce, bandeau, pansement, plaque, tache, nappe (de brouillard), flaque (d'huile), coin (de ciel bleu), (gén) zone, carré, (Hist, Cosmét) mouche, (GB) territoire, secteur, période, (Électron) connexion, raccordement, (Comput) correction provisoire
v. tr. - rapiécer, réparer, (Électron) raccorder, (Comput) corriger, retoucher
v. intr. - rapiécer, rafistoler, se raccommoder

idioms:

• bad patch    (traverser) une mauvaise passe
• not a patch on    ne pas arriver à la cheville de, (être) loin de valoir
• patch test    (Méd) test cutané
• patch together    rapiécer, retaper (hum)
• patch up    soigner (qn), rapiécer, réparer, (fig) rafistoler, résoudre (des différences)

2.
n. - idiot, clown

Deutsch (German)
1.
n. - Flicken, Stück, Stelle, Flecken, Stück Land, Augenklappe, Schönheitspflästerchen
v. - flicken, zusammenflicken,

idioms:

• bad patch    Zeitdauer gesehen als Einheit mit besonderen Merkmalen
• not a patch on    nicht an etwas heranreichen
• patch test    Allergentest
• patch together    zusammenflicken
• patch up    zusammenflicken, beilegen

2.
n. - Querkopf, unartiges Kind

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - επίρραμμα (κν. μπάλωμα), λεκές, βούλα, ψεύτικη ελιά, επίδεσμος ή τσιρότο, πατουλιά, κομματάκι, μικρό τεμάχιο (έκτασης κ.λπ.)
v. - μπαλώνω

idioms:

• bad patch    δύσκολη ώρα, στρίμωγμα, ζόρια
• not be a patch on    (δεν φτάνω) ούτε στο δαχτυλάκι του
• patch test    (ιατρ.) τεστ αλλεργικής ευαισθησίας
• patch together    συγκολλώ, ματίζω, συρράπτω
• patch up    (ψευτο)μπαλώνω, επιδιορθώνω βιαστικά ή πρόχειρα, (ξανα)φιλιώνω, τα ξαναφτιάχνω

Italiano (Italian)
rammendare, rattoppare, distintivo, toppa, benda

idioms:

• not be a patch on    essere inferiore a
• patch test    esame allergenico
• patch together    mettere insieme
• patch up    rattoppare

Português (Portuguese)
n. - retalho (m), remendo (m), curativo (m), mancha (f), tapa-olho (m)
v. - remendar, fazer uma costura com retalhos

idioms:

• bad patch    má sorte
• not be a patch on    não se compara a, não chega aos pés de
• patch test    teste de reações alérgicas
• patch together    realizar algo juntando idéias/material às pressas
• patch up    remendar, fazer de modo negligente

Русский (Russian)
латать, чинить, заплата, повязка

idioms:

• bad patch    трудный период
• not be a patch on    быть ничем по сравнению с
• patch test    тест на аллергию
• patch together    сварганить
• patch up    починить, сварганить, устроить, помирить

Español (Spanish)
1.
n. - remiendo, parche, pedazo de tela
v. tr. - remendar, poner un remiendo
v. intr. - llenarse de manchas de color

idioms:

• bad patch    mala racha
• not a patch on    no tener ni punto de comparación con, no tan bueno como
• patch test    prueba para descubrir una alergia
• patch together    armar o formar de cualquier manera, remendar, parchar, hacer de retazos
• patch up    arreglar, remendar, poner un parche

2.
n. - tonto , payaso

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - lapp, fläck, jordbit, ställe
v. - lappa, laga

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
1. 补钉, 补片, 斑驳, 斑点, 贴片, 膏药, 补缀, 修补, 拼凑, 匆匆制成, 暂时解决

idioms:

• bad patch    不幸
• not be a patch on    比不上
• patch test    贴布试验, 斑片试验
• patch together    修补
• patch up    修补, 解决, 平息

2. 白痴

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
1.
n. - 白癡

2.
n. - 補釘, 補片, 斑駁, 斑點, 貼片, 膏藥
v. tr. - 補綴, 修補, 拼湊, 匆匆製成, 暫時解決
v. intr. - 補綴, 修補, 拼湊, 匆匆製成, 暫時解決

idioms:

• bad patch    不幸
• not be a patch on    比不上
• patch test    貼布試驗, 斑片試驗
• patch together    修補
• patch up    修補, 解決, 平息

한국어 (Korean)
1.
n. - 헝겊조각, 애교점, 고약, 땅 한 뙈기
v. tr. - ~에 헝겊을 대다, 이어 맞추다, 수습하다
v. intr. - 옷에 헝겊조각을 대다

idioms:

• patch together    날조하다
• patch up    보수, 수선

2.
n. - 익살 광대, 바보, 얼간이

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 継ぎ, まだら, 眼帯, 狭い土地, あて布, 絆創膏
v. - 継ぎを当てる, 作る

idioms:

• not be a patch on    足元にも及ばない
• patch test    貼布試験
• patch together    継ぎ合わせる
• patch up    繕っておく, その場だけ収める

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) رقعه, غطاء يرتدى ليقى العين المصابه, لزقه للجراح البسيطه, لزوق (فعل) رقع, رتق, يرقع, يغطي, يحل, يسوي, يصلح, يرمم‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮טלאי, חלקה, רטייה, תחבושת, שטח קטן, חיבור זמני לחשמל, כתם, מקוף, תג יחידה, פיסה, שארית‬
v. tr. - ‮הטליא‬
v. intr. - ‮שימש כטלאי‬
n. - ‮ליצן‬

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