patchy

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Nature

patch·y /ˈpætʃi/ adjective  1  DNSEPARATEhappening or existing in some areas but not in others 局部地区的；零散的，斑驳的 patchy fog 局部弥漫的雾气2  COMPLETEnot complete enough to be useful 不完整的，零零碎碎的 His knowledge of French remained pretty patchy. 他对法语仍然是一知半解。 There is only patchy evidence of the animal’s existence. 只有一些零星的证据表明这种动物存在。3  especially British EnglishBAD good in some parts but bad in others 好坏不一的5The performance was patchy.演出有的部分精彩有的部分没什么意思。n I thought the performance was patchy. —patchiness noun [uncountable]

Examples from the Corpus

patchy• The auditorium itself was rather similar, brown-walled and patchy.• My knowledge of the subject is pretty patchy.• The grass looked pretty patchy.• Pre-election nerves in the City last week left the performance of the remaining 10 Questor Selection shares looking distinctly patchy.• The records are patchy and incomplete.• The enamel has peeled off the taps like so much banana skin, revealing dull, patchy brass.• The film is patchy, despite one or two good performances.• Thicker cloud will bring patchy drizzle over north-west-facing coasts and hills.• patchy evidence• A patchy picture begin to emerge of what happened that night.• This is ideal for weathered stone and patchy plaster.• Many department stores reported patchy sales over Christmas.• Since this evidence is patchy, the chapter also begins to identify areas in which future research seems important.

patch·y adjectiveLDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable  

happening existing but not Corpus or some in areas

patchy
patch‧y /ˈpætʃi/ adjective
1. happening or existing in some areas but not in others:
    patchy fog
2. not complete enough to be useful:
    His knowledge of French remained pretty patchy.
    There is only patchy evidence of the animal’s existence.
3. especially British English good in some parts but bad in others:
    I thought the performance was patchy.
—patchiness noun [uncountable]

patchyBrE /ˈpætʃi/ 🔊NAmE /ˈpætʃi/ 🔊 adjectiveexisting or happening in some places and not others 零散的；散落的；分布不匀的 SYN uneven ◆patchy fog团团的雾◆The grass was dry and patchy. 草都干了，东一片西一片的。🔊🔊 (NAmE also spotty) not complete; good in some parts, but not in others 不完整的；参差不齐的◆a patchy knowledge of Spanish对西班牙语一知半解◆It was a patchy performance. 那是一场水准参差的演出。🔊🔊▸ patch·ily BrE /ˈpætʃəli/ 🔊NAmE /ˈpætʃəli/ 🔊 adverb▸ patchi·ness BrE /ˈpætʃinəs/ 🔊NAmE /ˈpætʃinəs/ 🔊 noun [uncountable]