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patchy

[ pach-ee ]
/ ˈpætʃ i /
|
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adjective, patch·i·er, patch·i·est.

characterized by or made up of patches.
occurring in, forming, or like patches.
of inconsistent or irregular quality, texture, etc.; not uniform: patchy acting; patchy areas of fog.

RELATED WORDS

fitful, sketchy, uneven, erratic, irregular, random, variable, varying

Nearby words

  1. patchen, kenneth,
  2. patchogue,
  3. patchouli,
  4. patchstand,
  5. patchwork,
  6. patd,
  7. patd.,
  8. pate,
  9. patella,
  10. patellar fossa of vitreous

Origin of patchy

First recorded in 1790–1800; patch1 + -y1
Related formspatch·i·ly, adverbpatch·i·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for patchy

British Dictionary definitions for patchy

patchy

/ (ˈpætʃɪ) /

adjective patchier or patchiest

irregular in quality, occurrence, intensity, etca patchy essay
having or forming patches
Derived Formspatchily, adverbpatchiness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for patchy

patchy

adj.

1798, from patch (n.1) + -y (2).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper