Etymology : perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch twig
Pronunciation : swich
Function : noun
Date : 1592
1. exchange; transfer; slender flexible rod; hairpiece; whipping; device which opens or breaks an electric current; device that opens or closes circuits or selects paths (Computers); device which diverts trains from one track to another (Railroads). whip or beat with a switch; change, shift; exchange, trade; turn on or off by means of a switch (of an electrical appliance).
2. your average toggle switch. Low-riding drivers use them to control the hydrolics or any other electrical device in their car.
3. see also:
switch hitter. switch\switch\ , n. (elec.) a device for shifting an electric current to another circuit, or for making and breaking a circuit.switch \switch\, v. i. to walk with a jerk. [prov. eng.]switch \switch\ , n. [cf. od. swick a scourage, a whip. cf. swink, swing.].
4. a small, flexible twig or rod. mauritania, on the fifth medal, leads a horse with something like a thread; in her other hand she holds a switch.
5. (railways) a movable part of a rail; or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to another.
6. a separate mass or trees of hair, or of some substance (at jute) made to resemble hair, worn on the head by women.
7. (elec.) a mechanical device for shifting an electric current to another circuit.
8. A small, flexible twig or rod.
9. A movable part of a rail; or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to another.
10. A separate mass or trees of hair, or of some substance made to resemble hair, worn on the head by women.
11. A mechanical device for shifting an electric current to another circuit.
12. To strike with a switch or small flexible rod; to whip.
13. To swing or whisk; as, to switch a cane.
14. To trim, as, a hedge.
15. 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.
16. To shift to another circuit.
17. To walk with a jerk.
18. A device for shifting an electric current to another circuit, or for making and breaking a circuit. the act of changing one thing or position for another; "his switch on abortion cost him the election" a basketball maneuver; two defensive players shift assignments so that each guards the player usually guarded by the other a flexible implement used as an instrument of punishment control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit railroad track having two movable rails and necessary connections; used to turn a train from one track to another or to store rolling stock hairpiece consisting of a tress of false hair; used by women to give shape to a coiffure make a shift in or exchange of; "First Joe led; then we switched" lay aside, abandon, or leave for another; "switch to a different brand of beer"; "She switched psychiatrists"; "The car changed lanes" flog with or as if with a flexible rod.
19. 1. A switch is a small control for an electrical device which you use to turn the device on or off. Leona put some detergent into the dishwasher, shut the door and pressed the switch. a light switch.
20. If you switch to something different, for example to a different system, task, or subject of conversation, you change to it from what you were doing or saying before. Estonia is switching to a market economy The law would encourage companies to switch from coal to cleaner fuels The encouragement of a friend spurred Chris into switching jobs. = change Switch is also a noun. New technology made a switch to oil possible The spokesman implicitly condemned the United States policy switch. Switch over means the same as switch. a professional man who started out in law but switched over to medicine.
21. If you switch your attention from one thing to another or if your attention switches, you stop paying attention to the first thing and start paying attention to the second. My mother's interest had switched to my health As the era wore on, she switched her attention to films.
22. If you switch two things, you replace one with the other. In half an hour, they'd switched the tags on every cable The ballot boxes have been switched. = swap. a type of system used for paying for goods and services in the UK, by which customers use a type of plastic card called a debit card, and money is immediately taken out of their bank account.