patrol

[ puh-trohl ]

/ pəˈtroʊl /

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See synonyms for: patrol / patrolling on Thesaurus.com

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

a person or group of persons assigned to patrol an area, road, etc.

an automobile, ship, plane, squadron, fleet, etc., assigned to patrol an area.

Military. a detachment of two or more persons, often a squad or platoon, detailed for reconnaissance or combat.

the act of patrolling.

patrol wagon.

(in the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts) a subdivision of a troop, usually consisting of about eight members.

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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, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use patrol in a sentence

They took off their badges and name tags, snatched me out of the back seat of the patrol car and assaulted me with their nightsticks while I was still handcuffed.
A Supermajority Is Futile if it Can’t Pass Meaningful Police Reform|Cornelius Bowser Sr.|December 10, 2020|Voice of San Diego
If you opt for dawn patrol, après at the outdoor deck at Bonnie’s, the restaurant located midslope on Aspen Mountain, for coffee and oatmeal pancakes.
15 Ways to Play in the Snow This Year|Megan Michelson|November 26, 2020|Outside Online
That officer got out of his car and took cover behind another patrol car, according to Velez.
Man shoots at officers, runs over woman with stolen cruiser in Lanham, police say|Katie Mettler, Dana Hedgpeth|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
The temperature hovered just above freezing as Officer Zachary Harmon drove his patrol car down the Route 1 bypass close to Maine’s border with New Hampshire.
Maine Hires Lawyers With Criminal Records to Defend Its Poorest Residents|by Samantha Hogan, The Maine Monitor, with data analysis by Agnel Philip|October 6, 2020|ProPublica

In addition to its normal patrols, it also ties directly into Ring’s overall security systems.
Amazon’s home security drone may actually be less creepy than a regular camera|Stan Horaczek|September 26, 2020|Popular-Science
Endowing the feverish, PR-patrolled world of presidential politics with thoughtfulness and poise—now that would be radical.
Inside The Secret World of London’s National Gallery|Tim Teeman|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Both borders are patrolled by UN peacekeepers, missions that all parties disparage as weak and biased.
War of Words Between Israel and UN Continues|Betsy Pisik|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On a bus the way back from the Pyramids, we passed Gaza through a border crossing patrolled by Israel.
Gaza, You're No Good For My Marriage|Josh Robin|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Men and youths wearing surgical masks or balaclavas guarded the building and patrolled its immediate vicinity.
Inside a Russian-Occupied Police Station in Ukraine|David Patrikarakos|April 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He patrolled on foot, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) filled the donkey paths that crisscrossed the wadis and hills.
How a Thumb-Sized Gauge Is Revolutionizing Traumatic Brain Injuries|Brian Castner|March 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These guards patrolled the road and carried circular badges, red on one side and white on the other.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy
Every rail and post was utilized for hitching, and Town-marshal Pease, his star displayed, patrolled the town to avert disorder.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
At night two men of Robinson's party patrolled armed to the teeth; they relieved guard every two hours.
It Is Never Too Late to Mend|Charles Reade
While the islands were leased to a private company the beaches were patrolled by riflemen.
The Boy With the U. S. Fisheries|Francis Rolt-Wheeler
Along the banks of the river where pickets; patrolled by day, and their little fires flamed in the night, trading was active.
Historic Fredericksburg|John T. Goolrick

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, noun

Word Origin for patrol

C17: from French patrouiller, from patouiller to flounder in mud, from patte paw

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

patrol

Origin of patrol

OTHER WORDS FROM patrol

Words related to patrol

How to use patrol in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for patrol

Derived forms of patrol

Word Origin for patrol