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| switch [ swich ] |
noun (plural switch·es) |
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1. button or lever controlling electrical circuit: a mechanical or electronic device that opens, closes, or changes the connections in an electrical circuit, e.g. one used to turn a light or machine on or off
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2. sudden change: a quick or sudden change
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3. substitution: an exchange or substitution
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4. thin rod or cane: a thin flexible stick, especially one used for punishment
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5. beating: a blow or beating with a switch or other thin object
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6. operation of switch: the act or process of operating a switch
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7. hairdressing ponytail hairpiece: a hairpiece in the form of a false ponytail
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8. zoology tip of animal's tail: a tuft of hair at the end of the tail of a cow or other animal
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9. card games card game: a card game in which the suit can be changed during play
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10. rail device for shifting trains between tracks: a device enabling trains to transfer from one track to another, usually including movable rails
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11. rail railroad siding: a railroad siding onto which trains can be detoured
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12. telecommunications routing device used in telephone exchanges: a device used in a telephone exchange to route transmissions between network nodes
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13. comput technique for controlling program's logic: in computing, a programmed technique for indicating which alternative path to take at a decision point in a program's logic
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verb (past and past participle switched, present participle switch·ing, 3rd person present singular switch·es) |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb change, shift, or transfer: to change from one time, activity, or situation to another, often quickly or suddenly, or cause somebody or something to make such a change
  The dancing class has been switched from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning.
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2. transitive and intransitive verb make exchange or substitution: to exchange two similar or related things, or put one in the place of the other, sometimes secretly or surreptitiously
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3. transitive and intransitive verb electricity change electrical function: to make an electrical device do something different by operating a switch to cause current to stop or start flowing or change its path
He switched the radio to a different station.
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4. transitive and intransitive verb U.S. rail move train between tracks: to move a locomotive or train from one track to another
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5. transitive and intransitive verb flick or swing to and fro: to move quickly from side to side or backward and forward, or make something move in this way
The cat switched her tail in annoyance.
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6. transitive verb beat somebody with switch: to beat somebody with a switch, especially as a punishment
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adjective |
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with feet reversed: in skateboarding and similar sports, used to describe a stance in which the foot that the rider usually puts nearer the front is nearer the back
(
slang
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| [Late 16th century. Probably < Middle Dutch swijch "twig"] |
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| switch·a·ble adjective |
| switch·er noun |
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