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. 2023

How to use patrol in a sentence

The first is a set of thermal binoculars, which rangers can bring with them on patrols to scan for people approaching animals in the parks.
This blind rhino’s infrared security system could help stop poachers|Rachael Zisk|November 12, 2020|Popular-Science
A man and his sister died after a chaotic confrontation in a quiet neighborhood early Tuesday in Prince George’s County that included an exchange of gunfire with police, a stolen patrol car and a crash.
Man shoots at officers, runs over woman with stolen cruiser in Lanham, police say|Katie Mettler, Dana Hedgpeth|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
A female trooper who was inside the patrol car was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital with serious but nonlife-threatening injuries, police said.
Authorities looking for woman who fled scene after her car hit a Virginia State Police vehicle on I-66|Luz Lazo|November 8, 2020|Washington Post
She shouted at bike patrol officers, with demonstrators also raising their voices at police.
Police video shows fatal crash as D.C. officers attempt to stop moped driver|Peter Hermann, Justin Jouvenal, Julie Zauzmer|October 30, 2020|Washington Post

Boxes are monitored by surveillance cameras and police may also add them to their patrol detail, according to elections officials.
D.C. voting guide: What to know about early voting, mail-in ballots|Michael Brice-Saddler|October 29, 2020|Washington Post
Gurley was gunned down on Nov. 20, when a pair of cops was patrolling the rough housing project.
Protesters Demand Justice For Gurley As Gap Grows Between Cops and NYC|M.L. Nestel|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Triton will begin patrolling the seas with six ships based in Lampedusa and Porto Empedocle in Sicily on November 1.
Britain’s Let-Em-All-Die Policy|Nico Hines, Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But when a financial model depends on millions of users, and mere algorithms patrolling the gates, lapses are inevitable.
Facebook Apologizes For, but Doesn’t Retract, Discriminatory ‘Real Name’ Policy|Jay Michaelson|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At a minimum it could boost the number of troops it has patrolling the 900-kilometer frontier, Yavuz told The Daily Beast.
Is NATO Ally Turkey Tacitly Fueling the ISIS War Machine?|Thomas Seibert|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But at the same time a few well-known sellers were patrolling the street in their own cars looking for customers.
As Iran’s Marijuana Trade Thrives, Is It Becoming a Nation of Stoners?|IranWire|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The mounted officers and their men were patrolling the blocks along all the northern front of the fire.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
The tide was creaming over the short thumb of a jetty, and the herd of small black cows was patrolling the beach.
Mushroom Town|Oliver Onions
Moya, patrolling the willow walk in front of the Lodge, took this in with a chuckle.
The Highgrader|William MacLeod Raine
With your ship patrolling the stretch of river where they're likely to cross, we could be sure that Black Hawk won't escape us.
Shaman|Robert Shea
Skipper Candage was patrolling the widow's front yard and was exhibiting more cheerfulness.
Blow The Man Down|Holman Day

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