Hardware device that routes the ins and outs of your outboard gear and locates them neatly into a single unit. Usually rackmountable and used for racks of gear to prevent having to crawl behind and reroute the cables every time you need to repatch things.
An electrical panel that, ideally, contains an input and output for the various devices used in a studio. It serves as a central point to connect the various devices together.
A system of panel mounted connectors used to bring inputs and outputs to a central point from where they can be routed using plug-in patch cords.
A panel of jacks (female receptacles) hard-wired to all inputs, outputs and side-chains of outboard equipment, and all outputs and insert points of the mixing console. Often used in recording studios to enable rapid connection of any combination of equipment by the use of 'patch cords', or 'patch leads'.