patrol
[ puh-trohl ]
/ pəˈtroʊl /
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verb (used without object), pa·trolled, pa·trol·ling.
(of a police officer, soldier, etc.) to pass along a road, beat, etc., or around or through a specified area in order to maintain order and security.
verb (used with object), pa·trolled, pa·trol·ling.
to maintain the order and security of (a road, beat, area, etc.) by passing along or through it.
noun
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Origin of patrol
1655–65; <French patrouille (noun), patrouiller (v.) patrol, originally a pawing (noun), to paw (v.) in mud; derivative (with suffixal -ouille) of patte paw; -r- unexplained
OTHER WORDS FROM patrol
pa·trol·ler, nounre·pa·trol, verb (used with object), re·pa·trolled, re·pa·trol·ling.un·pa·trolled, adjectivewell-pa·trolled, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use patrol in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for patrol
patrol
/ (pəˈtrəʊl) /
noun
the action of going through or around a town, neighbourhood, etc, at regular intervals for purposes of security or observation
a person or group that carries out such an action
a military detachment with the mission of security, gathering information, or combat with enemy forces
a division of a troop of Scouts or Guides
verb -trols, -trolling or -trolled
to engage in a patrol of (a place)
Derived forms of patrol
patroller, nounWord Origin for patrol
C17: from French patrouiller, from patouiller to flounder in mud, from patte paw
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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