patrol

Saypuh-TROHLUS/pəˈtɹoʊl/UK/pəˈtɹəʊl/

8 meanings of patrol

1
nouncountable
A walk around an area to guard it, or the people who do the guarding.
Like a security guard walking around a building to make sure everything is okay.
A patrol walks around the camp at night to keep everyone safe.
The guards sent a small patrol to check the back gate.
Similarguard, watch, round
Note
2
verbtransitive
To walk or travel around a place to guard it and keep it safe.
Like a teacher walking around the playground to keep an eye on the kids.
Officers patrol the neighborhood every night.
Two guards patrol the harbor in a small boat.
Similarguard, police, monitor, watch
Note
3
verbintransitive
To move around an area on guard, watching for trouble, without a fixed stop.
Like a lifeguard walking back and forth along the beach, always watching.
The guards patrol up and down the wall all night.
Two officers patrol nearby in case of trouble.
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4
noununcountable
The biggest group of police officers, who drive around and answer calls for help.
Like the largest group of workers in a store, who help most of the customers.
He worked in patrol for ten years before becoming a detective.
Most new officers start out in patrol.
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5
nouncountable
A small group of soldiers or guards sent out to watch an area and report back.
Like a small team sent out to look around and report back what they see.
The patrol moved quietly through the woods at night.
A patrol of six soldiers checked the road ahead.
Similardetachment, guard, squad, picket
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6
nouncountable or uncountable
A trip by a small group of soldiers past their own lines to find where the enemy is.
Like scouts going ahead of a hiking group to check what is down the trail.
The soldiers went on patrol to find out where the enemy was hiding.
They sent a patrol out past the camp at dawn.
Similarreconnaissance, sortie
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7
nouncountable
A walk around the guard posts by a few soldiers to keep the camp safe from attack.
Like a few guards walking between watch points to make sure no one sneaks in.
Four soldiers made a patrol around the posts every hour.
The night patrol kept the outposts safe from surprise attacks.
Similarround
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8
nouncountable
A small group inside a scout troop, usually six to eight kids of about the same age.
Like a small team in a class that works together on projects.
Each patrol picked a name and a flag at the first meeting.
Our patrol set up its own tent at camp.
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 4–8

From French patrouille, meaning a night-watch and literally a tramping about. It goes back to a word for the paw or foot of an animal.

Meanings 2–3

From French patrouiller, meaning to paddle, paw about, or patrol, from patte ("a paw").