patchwork

patch·work

noun, often attributive \ˈpach-ˌwərk\

Definition of PATCHWORK

1

: something composed of miscellaneous or incongruous parts : hodgepodge

2

: pieces of cloth of various colors and shapes sewn together to form a covering; also : something resembling such a covering <a patchwork of fields>

Examples of PATCHWORK

1. The valley is a patchwork of family farms.
2. A patchwork of laws prevent the land from being developed.
3. a patchwork system of laws

Illustration of PATCHWORK

First Known Use of PATCHWORK

1692

Related to PATCHWORK

Synonyms: agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage, crazy quilt, farrago, gallimaufry, grab bag, gumbo, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jambalaya, jumble, jungle, litter, macédoine, medley, mélange, menagerie, miscellanea, mishmash, mixed bag, montage, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, pastiche, miscellany, patchwork quilt, potpourri, ragbag, ragout, rummage, salad, salmagundi, scramble, shuffle, smorgasbord, stew, tumble, variety, welter

Related Words: detritus, notions, oddments, odds and ends, sundries; accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomerate, conglomeration; catchall; admixture, alloy, amalgam, blend, combination, commixture, composite, compound, fusion, intermixture, mix-up; bollix, chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, dog's breakfast [chiefly British], mess, morass, muddle, shambles; imbroglio, knot, snarl, tangle

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Rhymes with PATCHWORK

artwork, at work, beadwork, berserk, breastwork, brickwork, bridgework, brightwork, brushwork, capework, casework, clockwork, coachwork, de Klerk, ductwork, Dunkirk, earthwork, falsework, fieldwork, file clerk, firework, flatwork, footwork, formwork, framework, fretwork, frostwork, glasswork, Grand Turk, grillwork, groundwork, guesswork, hackwork, handwork, hauberk, headwork, homework, housework, in work, ironwork, knee-jerk, lacework, lifework, make-work, meshwork, millwork, network, outwork, paintwork, piecework, presswork, quillwork, rework, roadwork, salesclerk, schoolwork, scrollwork, shellwork, slopwork, Southwark, spadework, steelwork, stickwork, stonework, stump work, teamwork, timework, topwork, town clerk, waxwork, webwork, wheelwork, woodwork, young Turk