patch
noun [ C ]
uk/pætʃ/ us IT
a small computer program that can repair a problem with software:
You can download a patch to fix the problem.
go through/hit a bad/difficult/rough patch informal
to experience a lot of problems in a short period of time:
Economically, the country is going through a bad patch.
The company hit a rough patch last year, which included its first quarterly loss since going public.