toggle — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A wooden or metal pin, short rod, crosspiece or similar, fixed transversely in the eye of a rope or chain to be secured to any other loop, ring, or bight, e.g. a sea painter to a lifeboat.

2. A rod-shaped button bound with slack to the fabric.

   Usage

   • in particular

3. A toggle switch.

4. An appliance for transmitting force at right angles to its direction.

5. A horizontal piece of wood that is placed on a door, flat, or other wooden structure, but is not on one of the edges of the structure.

6. A fastener that has flaps that align vertically to penetrate a surface and then spread out to secure the fastener in position, e.g. a molly bolt.

   Examples

   Hooks come with screws for use in plaster or wood and toggles for use in wallboard.

7. A loop of webbing or a dowel affixed to the end of the steering/brake lines of a parachute providing the pilot with a means of control.

Verb

1. To alternate between two positions using a single switch or lever.

   Examples

   Clicking a button will alternately toggle its light on OR off.

2. To switch between alternate states.

   Examples

   toggle to lower/upper case

   You can quickly toggle the case of selected text by pressing Alt+C.

   More examples (1)

   He’s that rare creature who’s equally powerful in the classics and popular fare, who’s dedicated to toggling between stage and screen. He is both prolific and enigmatic, disappearing into a dazzling range of characters.

3. To fix like a toggle iron; to fix fast.

   Usage

   • Transitive

Noun

1. any instruction that works first one way and then the other; it turns something on the first time it is used and then turns it off the next time

   Broader terms

   instructioncommandstatementprogram line

2. a hinged switch that can assume either of two positions

   Synonyms

   toggle switchon-off switch

   Broader terms

   switchelectric switchelectrical switch

3. a fastener consisting of a peg or pin or crosspiece that is inserted into an eye at the end of a rope or a chain or a cable in order to fasten it to something (as another rope or chain or cable)

   Broader terms

   fastenerfasteningholdfastfixing

Verb

1. provide with a toggle or toggles

   Broader terms

   supplyproviderenderfurnishoffer

2. fasten with, or as if with, a toggle

   Broader terms

   fastenfixsecure

3. release by a toggle switch

   Broader terms

   let go oflet goreleaserelinquish

   Examples

   toggle a bomb from an airplane