pa•trol
Pronunciation: (pu-trōl'), [key]
— v., n. -trolled, -trol•ling,
—v.i.
- (of a police officer, soldier, etc.) to pass along a road, beat, etc., or around or through a specified area in order to maintain order and security.
—v.t.
- to maintain the order and security of (a road, beat, area, etc.) by passing along or through it.
—n.
- a person or group of persons assigned to patrol an area, road, etc.
- an automobile, ship, plane, squadron, fleet, etc., assigned to patrol an area.
- a detachment of two or more persons, often a squad or platoon, detailed for reconnaissance or combat.
- the act of patrolling.
- See
- (in the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts) a subdivision of a troop, usually consisting of about eight members.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.