switch — English Dictionary

switch
Pronunciations (2)
  • /swɪt͡ʃ/
  • swɪtʃ

Noun

  1. A device to turn electric current on and off or direct its flow.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  2. A change or exchange.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Examples

    After many complications and sudden switches of career and identity for all […] they end up selling out for fame and money, and leave the boardwalk for good.

    More examples (2)

    Wenger sent on Cesc Fabregas and Van Persie to try to finish Leeds off and with 14 minutes left the switch paid off as the Spaniard sent Bendtner away down the right and his wonderful curling cross was headed in by Van Persie at the far post.

    This is a result of a switch from High Street to online retailing, requiring consumer goods to be delivered to the door from large-scale distribution parks that have sufficient traffic to justify a rail terminal.

  3. A movable section of railroad track which allows the train to be directed down one of two destination tracks; (set of) points.

    Usage
    • Philippines
    • US usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  4. A long, slender woody plant stem or a flexible, thin rod used as a whip to administer corporal punishment in the United States.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Examples
    More examples (2)

    Their mother would walk out into the yard and cut a switch from a tree and beat him—beat him, it seemed to Florence, until any other boy would have fallen down dead; […]

    "A proper switch is a slim, flexible branch off a tree or a bush. A switch applied to the buttocks stings fiercely. It may leave red marks or bruises, but it causes no lasting damage.."

  5. Synonym of rute.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  6. A command line notation allowing specification of optional behavior.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Examples

    Use the /b switch to specify black-and-white printing.

  7. A programming construct that takes different actions depending on the value of an expression.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  8. A networking device connecting multiple wires, allowing them to communicate simultaneously, when possible. Compare to the less efficient hub device that solely duplicates network packets to each wire.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  9. A system of specialized relays, computer hardware, or other equipment which allows the interconnection of a calling party's telephone line with any called party's line.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  10. A mechanism within DNA that activates or deactivates a gene.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  11. One who is willing to take either a submissive or a dominant role in a sexual relationship.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • especially
    • Uncountable
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    Ideally, if one of your ladies happens to be a switch (or would be willing to switch for this scene), I would love to be able to inflict a little "revenge tickling" as well, as part of a scenario.

  12. A separate mass or tress of hair, or of some substance (such as jute) made to resemble hair, formerly worn on the head by women.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Historical
    • Uncountable
  13. A variant of crazy eights where one card, such as an ace, reverses the direction of play.

    Usage
    • Uncountable
  14. Synonym of Glock switch.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Slang
    • Uncountable
  15. Synonym of Glock switch. A Glock pistol equipped with a Glock switch.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • metonymically
    • Slang
    • Uncountable
    Examples

    The way that switch brrt, I know he dyin' (Oh my, oh my God). 6-7, I just bipped right on the highway (Bip, bip).

  16. A play in which the ball (or equivalent) is moved from one side of the playing area to the other.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    Once a sign of surrender and lead protection, the backwards kick plays a role in one of the most enterprising, enjoyable phases of the modern game: the switch. In an era where zones, presses, zone-presses and floods are ever present, the switch breaks through these tactical innovations like a hot knife through butter.

  17. The process of the currently fronting headmate changing; an instance of this.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Examples

    Switches only happen once every couple weeks for us, but they're quite sudden when they happen.

Verb

  1. To exchange.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    I want to switch this red dress for a green one.

    More examples (1)

    A “moving platform” scheme[…]is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails. Local trains would use side-by-side rails to roll alongside intercity trains and allow passengers to switch trains by stepping through docking bays.

  2. To change (something) to the specified state using a switch.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    Switch the light on.

    When switched on, air brakes activate car by car, from the locomotive to the back of the train.

  3. To whip or hit with a switch.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    • in modern times Southern US
    Examples

    They were looking on the ground, absorbed in thought. The manager was switching his leg with a slender twig: his sagacious relative lifted his head.

    "Am I going to have to switch you?"

  4. To change places, tasks, etc.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    I want to switch to a different seat.

  5. To get angry suddenly; to quickly or unreasonably become enraged.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    • Slang
  6. To swing or whisk.

    Examples

    to switch a cane

  7. To be swung or whisked.

    Examples

    The angry cat's tail switched back and forth.

  8. To trim.

    Examples

    Switch and clip thorn and other deciduous hedges.

  9. To turn from one railway track to another; to transfer by a switch; generally with off, from, etc.

    Examples

    to switch off a train; to switch a car from one track to another

    More examples (1)

    There was also public praise in the days that followed for the train's driver, Andrew Johnson. It took a cool head to co-ordinate with the signaller at York ROC to have the train switched from fast to slow line, to permit the stop in Huntingdon station.

  10. To shift to another circuit.

  11. To take on the opposite role (leader vs. follower) in a partner dance.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    Feel free to ask her to follow, lead, or switch!

  12. To move (the ball or equivalent) from one side of the playing area to the other.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    After they switched the ball across their back half, Hurley found the hard-running Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, who in turn hit up Stewart. Then the big man produced a moment of inspiration, taking on his defender before chipping the ball to Daniher, who goaled.

Adjective

  1. Pertaining to riding with the front and back feet swapped round compared to one's normal position.

    Usage
    • not-comparable
  2. Pertaining to skiing backwards.

    Usage
    • not-comparable

Noun

  1. control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit

    Broader terms
  2. an event in which one thing is substituted for another

    Examples

    the replacement of lost blood by a transfusion of donor blood

  3. hairpiece consisting of a tress of false hair; used by women to give shape to a coiffure

  4. railroad track having two movable rails and necessary connections; used to turn a train from one track to another or to store rolling stock

  5. a flexible implement used as an instrument of punishment

  6. a basketball maneuver; two defensive players shift assignments so that each guards the player usually guarded by the other

    Broader terms
  7. the act of changing one thing or position for another

    Broader terms
    Examples

    his switch on abortion cost him the election

Verb

  1. change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence

  2. exchange or give (something) in exchange for

  3. lay aside, abandon, or leave for another

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    switch to a different brand of beer

    She switched psychiatrists

    More examples (1)

    The car changed lanes

  4. make a shift in or exchange of

    Broader terms
    Examples

    First Joe led; then we switched

  5. cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation

    Synonyms
    Examples

    switch on the light

    throw the lever

  6. flog with or as if with a flexible rod

  7. reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)

Word forms
switchesswitchesswitchingswitchedswitched

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