patchy
gb/pˈæt͡ʃi/ us/pˈæt͡ʃi/
B2
Inglés
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adjective
B2
property
1
uneven, with spots or gaps
If something is patchy, it has some parts and some empty parts.
Patrón de uso:
patchy [noun]
Error frecuente:
Learners may confuse patchy (uneven, with gaps) with patched (repaired with a patch).
Sinónimos
spotty (Often used for irregular dots or small areas; common for skin or coverage.)
|
uneven (General word for not uniform, not necessarily in distinct patches.)
|
irregular (More general; can describe shape, timing, or distribution.)
Antónimos
even (Uniform, without gaps or bare areas.)
|
continuous (Unbroken, with no gaps.)
|
uniform (Evenly spread or consistent throughout.)
Colocaciones
patchy cloud
|patchy fog
|patchy grass
|patchy snow
|patchy paint
|patchy beard
|patchy hair
|patchy coverage
|patchy distribution
|patchy pattern
Temas
daily_life
|nature
|appearance
Ejemplos
- The field was patchy after the dry summer, with bare soil showing through.
- Patchy fog made it hard to see the road in places.
- He’s trying to grow a beard, but it’s still patchy on the cheeks.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- There is patchy snow on the hills.
- My lawn looks patchy in winter.
adjective
B2
property
2
inconsistent; not reliable throughout
If something is patchy, it is good sometimes but not always.
Patrón de uso:
patchy [noun]
Error frecuente:
Patchy does not mean 'small' or 'minor'; it means 'not consistent' or 'not complete'.
Sinónimos
inconsistent (General term for changing quality or behavior.)
|
intermittent (Emphasizes stopping and starting, especially for signals or supply.)
|
unreliable (Focuses on not being dependable.)
Antónimos
consistent (Same quality or level throughout.)
|
reliable (Dependable; works as expected.)
|
steady (Regular and not changing much.)
Colocaciones
patchy internet
|patchy connection
|patchy signal
|patchy reception
|patchy service
|patchy performance
|patchy quality
|patchy attendance
|patchy record
|patchy memory
Temas
technology
|communication
|education
|work
Ejemplos
- The Wi‑Fi is patchy in the back rooms of the building.
- Her attendance has been patchy this semester because of childcare problems.
- His knowledge of the topic is patchy, so he misses some key details.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The internet is patchy today.
- My memory of that trip is patchy.
adjective
C1
property
3
made from different patches
Made from many different pieces put together.
Patrón de uso:
patchy [noun]
Error frecuente:
This sense is less common than 'uneven' and can be confused with patched (repaired).
Sinónimos
patchwork (Directly describes something made from pieces sewn together.)
|
piecemeal (Emphasizes being put together from separate parts; often about plans or solutions.)
Antónimos
seamless (Looks like one continuous piece, not joined from parts.)
|
single-piece (Made from one piece rather than many.)
Colocaciones
patchy quilt
|patchy blanket
|patchy fabric
|patchy pattern
|patchy design
Temas
clothing
|home
|design
Ejemplos
- She wore a patchy jacket made from scraps of denim.
- The quilt has a patchy, homemade look that I love.
- They proposed a patchy solution built from several older systems.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The quilt is patchy.
- He has a patchy jacket.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
patchy
AFI
GB/pˈæt͡ʃi/
US/pˈæt͡ʃi/
Sílabas y acento
patchy (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (patchy)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: patchy
- Comparative: patchier
- Superlative: patchiest
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
patchy at best
1/pˈæt͡ʃi ˈæt bˈɛst/
fixed phrase
only slightly good; inconsistent
Not very good and not reliable.
Ejemplos
- The customer support is patchy at best, especially on weekends.
- Their progress has been patchy at best since the project started.
- The data is patchy at best, so we can’t draw strong conclusions.
patchy coverage
1/pˈæt͡ʃi kˈʌvɚɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
coverage only in some places
Coverage that works in some places but not in others.
Ejemplos
- This route has patchy coverage, so download the map before you go.
- We get patchy coverage in the basement offices.
- Rural areas still suffer from patchy coverage.
patchy reception
1/pˈæt͡ʃi ɹɪsˈɛpʃən/
fixed phrase
unreliable phone or radio signal
A signal that works only sometimes.
Ejemplos
- Sorry I missed your call—I had patchy reception on the train.
- We always get patchy reception in the mountains.
- The podcast kept cutting out because of patchy reception.