Patchy Meaning
/ˈpæt͡ʃi/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjFull of, or covered with, patches; abounding in patches.
adjNot constant or continuous; intermittent or uneven.
Sentence Examples
Judy’s memory is patchy, her speech is slurred.
Patchy outbreaks of rain are expected in northern parts this morning.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The lawn looked ____ because some grass was green and some brown.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The fog was ____ along the coast, making driving conditions unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English patch Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English patchy From patch + -y.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Added to these woes was the Treasury's demands for across-the-board train operator cost-cutting of broadly 10%. Passenger rail's slow, patchy and fragile recovery had the stuffing knocked out of it once more."
— 2022 January 12, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Unhappy start to 2022”, in RAIL, number 948, page 3:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The lawn looked ____ because some grass was green and some brown.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The fog was ____ along the coast, making driving conditions unpredictable and potentially dangerous.