patchy — existing or happening in some places but not others; uneven in quality
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: existing or happening in some places but not others; uneven in quality
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpætʃi/
Example Sentences
- My Wi-Fi connection is really patchy - sometimes it works perfectly, sometimes I can't even load a cat video!
- The student's essay showed patchy understanding of the topic.
- After three cups of coffee, my memory is still patchy about what happened at the party.
patchy
ADJECTIVE[/ˈpætʃi/]
existing or happening in some places but not others; uneven in quality
existing or happening in some places but not others; uneven in quality
Even scratchy sounds can be catchy when played from the heart, despite patchy strings!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Patchy derives from the noun 'patch', meaning a piece of cloth or material, which emerged in Middle English. The adjective sense developed to describe something irregular or uneven, as if composed of disparate pieces joined together haphazardly.
Breakdown
patch (a piece of cloth or material) + -y (adjective-forming suffix indicating a quality or characteristic). The suffix -y transforms the noun into an adjective meaning 'having the nature or quality of patches; occurring in patches'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My Wi-Fi connection is really patchy - sometimes it works perfectly, sometimes I can't even load a cat video!”
“The student's essay showed patchy understanding of the topic.”
“After three cups of coffee, my memory is still patchy about what happened at the party.”
“The patchy snow made driving conditions dangerous.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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