Definitions for Switchswɪtʃ

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

switchswɪtʃ(n.)

a turning, shifting, or changing.
a device for turning on or off or directing an electric current or for making or breaking a circuit.
Category: Electricity and Magnetism
a track structure for diverting moving trains or rolling stock from one track to another.
Category: Railroads
a slender, flexible shoot, rod, etc., used esp. in whipping or disciplining.
the act of whipping or beating with or as if with such an object; a stroke, lash, or whisking movement.
a bunch or tress of long hair or some substitute, worn by women to supplement their own hair.
a tuft of hair at the end of the tail of some animals.
Category: Zoology
(v.t.)to change or exchange.
to turn, shift, or divert:
to switch the subject.
to connect, disconnect, or redirect (an electric circuit or the device it serves) by operating a switch (often fol. by off or on).
Category: Electricity and Magnetism
to whip or beat with a switch or the like.
to move, swing, or whisk (a cane, a fishing line, etc.) with a swift, lashing stroke.
to move or transfer (a train, car, etc.) from one set of tracks to another. to drop or add (cars) or to make up (a train).
Category: Railroads
(v.i.)to strike with or as if with a switch.
to change, as direction or course; turn or shift:
to switch to another road.
to exchange or replace something with another.
to move back and forth briskly, as a cat's tail.
Category: Common Vocabulary
to be shifted, turned, etc., by means of a switch.

Origin of switch:

1585–95; orig. uncert.

switch′er(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

switch, electric switch, electrical switch(noun)
control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit
substitution, permutation, transposition, replacement, switch(noun)
an event in which one thing is substituted for another
"the replacement of lost blood by a transfusion of donor blood"
switch(noun)
hairpiece consisting of a tress of false hair; used by women to give shape to a coiffure
switch(noun)
railroad track having two movable rails and necessary connections; used to turn a train from one track to another or to store rolling stock
switch(noun)
a flexible implement used as an instrument of punishment
switch(noun)
a basketball maneuver; two defensive players shift assignments so that each guards the player usually guarded by the other
switch, switching, shift(verb)
the act of changing one thing or position for another
"his switch on abortion cost him the election"
switch over, switch, exchange(verb)
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
trade, swap, swop, switch(verb)
exchange or give (something) in exchange for
switch, shift, change(verb)
lay aside, abandon, or leave for another
"switch to a different brand of beer"; "She switched psychiatrists"; "The car changed lanes"
switch, change over, shift(verb)
make a shift in or exchange of
"First Joe led; then we switched"
throw, flip, switch(verb)
cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation
"switch on the light"; "throw the lever"
switch(verb)
flog with or as if with a flexible rod
interchange, tack, switch, alternate, flip, flip-flop(verb)
reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

switch(verb)ɪtʃ
to change from one thing to another
She switched easily between the two languages.; I switched from my old browser to a better one.
switchɪtʃ
to exchange one thing for another
He switched clothes to avoid being identified.; The photographer asked me and my brother to switch places.
switchɪtʃ
to exchange work times with sb else
Can you switch shifts with me on Saturday?; I can switch with Carrie.
switch(noun)ɪtʃ
a device that you press or move to turn sth on or off
a light switch
switchɪtʃ
to press or move a switch
He flipped the switch and the room lit up.
switchɪtʃ
the act of changing from one thing to another
We recently made the switch from heating with oil to gas.

Wiktionary

switch(Noun)
A device to turn electric current on and off or direct its flow.
switch(Noun)
A change.
switch(Noun)
A movable section of railroad track which allows the train to be directed down one of two destination tracks; point.
switch(Noun)
A slender woody plant stem used as a whip.
switch(Noun)
A command line notation allowing specification of optional behavior.
Use the /b switch to specify black-and-white printing.
switch(Noun)
A programming construct that takes different actions depending on the value of an expression.
switch(Noun)
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.
switch(Noun)
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.
switch(Noun)
One who is willing to take either a sadistic or a masochistic role.
switch(Verb)
To exchange.
I want to switch this red dress for a green one.
switch(Verb)
To change (something) to the specified state using a switch.
Switch the light on.
switch(Verb)
To whip or hit with a switch.
switch(Verb)
To change places, tasks, etc.
I want to switch to a different seat.
switch(Verb)
To get angry suddenly; to quickly or unreasonably become enraged.
switch(Noun)
A small, flexible twig or rod, especially one used as a whip.

Webster Dictionary

Switch(noun)
a small, flexible twig or rod
Switch(noun)
a movable part of a rail; or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to another
Switch(noun)
a separate mass or trees of hair, or of some substance (at jute) made to resemble hair, worn on the head by women
Switch(noun)
a mechanical device for shifting an electric current to another circuit
Switch(verb)
to strike with a switch or small flexible rod; to whip
Switch(verb)
to swing or whisk; as, to switch a cane
Switch(verb)
to trim, as, a hedge
Switch(verb)
to turn from one railway track to another; to transfer by a switch; -- generally with off, from, etc.; as, to switch off a train; to switch a car from one track to another
Switch(verb)
to shift to another circuit
Switch(verb)
to walk with a jerk

The Standard Electrical Dictionary

Switch
A device for opening and closing an electric circuit. A simple type is the ordinary telegrapher's switch. A bar of metal is mounted horizontally by a pivot at one end, so as to be free to rotate through an arc of a circle. In one position its free end rests upon a stud of metal. One terminal of a circuit is attached to its journal, the other to the stud. Resting on the stud it closes the circuit, in other positions it opens the circuit.