switch

 
Pronunciation: /swɪtʃ/

noun

  • 1a device for making and breaking the connection in an electric circuit: the guard hit a switch and the gate swung open
  • Computing a program variable which activates or deactivates a certain function of a program.
  • Computing a device which forwards data packets to an appropriate part of the network.
  • 2an act of changing to or adopting one thing in place of another: his friends were surprised at his switch from newspaper owner to farmer
  • 3a slender, flexible shoot cut from a tree.
  • 4North American a set of points on a railway track.
  • 5a tress of false or detached hair tied at one end, used in hairdressing to supplement natural hair.

verb

[with object]
  • 1change the position, direction, or focus of: the company switched the boats to other routes
  • adopt (something different) in place of something else; change: she’s managed to switch careers [no object]: she worked as a librarian and then switched to journalism
  • substitute (two items) for each other; exchange: after ten minutes, listener and speaker switch roles
  • 2 archaic beat or flick with or as if with a switch.

Phrasal Verbs

switch off

informal cease to pay attention: as he waffles on, I switch off

switch something off (or on)

turn an electrical device off (or on): she switched on the kettle

Derivatives

switchable

adjective

Origin:

late 16th century (denoting a thin tapering riding whip): probably from Low German