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Wiktionary The Free Dictionary

switch

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Switch

English

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A light switch.
A networking switch.

Etymology

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Perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch ("twig "), first attested in c. 1592. The mechanical device for altering the direction of something sense is first attested in c. 1797, pertaining to pivoted rails on minecart railways,[1] which were once wooden.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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switch (plural switches )

  1. A device to turn electric current on and off or direct its flow.
  2. A change or exchange.
    • 1985 December 7, Nicholas Deutsch, "Epstein on the Beach (review)", in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 21, page 15:
      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.
    • 2011 January 19, Jonathan Stevenson, "Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal", in BBC Sport ‎[1] , archived from the original on 23 March 2012:
      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.
    • 2024 January 10, 'Industry Insider', "Success built on liberalisation and market freedom", in RAIL, number 1000, page 69:
      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. (rail transport , US , Philippines ) A movable section of railroad track which allows the train to be directed down one of two destination tracks; (set of) points.
  4. A long, slender woody plant stem or a flexible, thin rod used as a whip to administer corporal punishment in the United States.
    • 1953, James Baldwin, "Florence's Prayer", in Go Tell It on the Mountain (Penguin Classics), London: Penguin Books, published 2001, →ISBN:
      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; [...]
    • 2007, Jeffrey W. Hamilton, Raising Godly Children in a Wicked World, Lulu.com, page 15:
      "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. (music ) Synonym of rute .
  6. (computer science ) A command line notation allowing specification of optional behavior.
    Use the /b switch to specify black-and-white printing.
  7. (computing , programming ) A programming construct that takes different actions depending on the value of an expression.
    • 2004, Curt, "Can I use IF statements, and still use switches?", in microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields (Usenet):
  8. (computing , networking ) 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.
  9. (telecommunications ) 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.
  10. (genetics ) A mechanism within DNA that activates or deactivates a gene.
  11. (especially BDSM ) One who is willing to take either a submissive or a dominant role in a sexual relationship.
    • 2012, Terri-Jean Bedford, Bondage Bungalow Fantasies, page 99:
      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. (historical ) 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.
  13. (card games ) A variant of crazy eights where one card, such as an ace, reverses the direction of play.
  14. (firearms , slang ) Synonym of Glock switch .
    1. (slang , metonymic ) A Glock pistol equipped with a Glock switch.
      • 2024 December 1, "Doot Doot (6 7)" (track 27), in Zombie Love Kensington Paradise‎[2] , performed by Skrilla:
        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).
  15. (sports ) A play in which the ball (or equivalent) is moved from one side of the playing area to the other.
    • 2023 July 20, Cody Atkinson, Sean Lawson, "How the Brisbane Lions are switching directions in the AFL to achieve attacking success", in ABC News ‎[3] , Sydney, archived from the original on 1 August 2023, retrieved 27 May 2025:
      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.
  16. (multiplicity slang ) The process of the currently fronting headmate changing; an instance of this.
    Switches only happen once every couple weeks for us, but they're quite sudden when they happen.

Synonyms

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Hyponyms

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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Translations

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device to turn electric current on and off
movable section of railroad track
thin rod used as a whip
command line notation
system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines
networking device
someone willing to switch roles in BDSM
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Verb

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switch (third-person singular simple present switches , present participle switching , simple past and past participle switched )

  1. (transitive ) To exchange.
    I want to switch this red dress for a green one.
    • 2013 June 1, "Ideas coming down the track", in The Economist ‎[4] , volume 407, number 8838, archived from the original on 13 July 2013, page 13 (Technology Quarterly):
      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. (transitive ) To change (something) to the specified state using a switch.
    Switch the light on.
    • 2013 June 1, "Ideas coming down the track", in The Economist ‎[5] , volume 407, number 8838, archived from the original on 13 July 2013, page 13 (Technology Quarterly):
      When switched on, air brakes activate car by car, from the locomotive to the back of the train.
  3. (transitive , in modern times Southern US) To whip or hit with a switch.
  4. (intransitive ) To change places, tasks, etc.
    I want to switch to a different seat.
  5. (slang , intransitive ) To get angry suddenly; to quickly or unreasonably become enraged.
  6. To swing or whisk.
    to switch a cane
  7. To be swung or whisked.
    The angry cat's tail switched back and forth.
  8. To trim.
    • 1811, Walter Nicol, The Planters Kalendar:
      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.
    to switch off a train; to switch a car from one track to another
    • 2025 November 12, Philip Haigh, "High praise for rail staff's courage and clear thinking", in RAIL, number 1048, page 50:
      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. (ecclesiastical ) To shift to another circuit.
  11. (intransitive ) To take on the opposite role (leader vs. follower) in a partner dance.
    • 2023 February 18 (last accessed), "Heather Lombardi", in The Dancing Fools‎[6] , archived from the original on 18 February 2023:
      Feel free to ask her to follow, lead, or switch!
  12. (sports , transitive ) To move (the ball or equivalent) from one side of the playing area to the other.
    • 2018 April 15, Sarah Harrington, "Essendon defeats Port Adelaide: Jake Stringer's brilliance personifies the Bombers' response to a tough week", in Fox Footy‎[7] , Melbourne, retrieved 27 May 2025:
      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.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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Translations

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to exchange — see also swap,‎ disarrange,‎ mix up,‎ disorder
to change (something) to the specified state using a switch — see also shift,‎ toggle
to hit with a switch (rod)
to change places or tasks
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Adjective

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switch (not comparable )

  1. (snowboarding ) Pertaining to riding with the front and back feet swapped round compared to one's normal position.[2]
  2. (freestyle skiing ) Pertaining to skiing backwards.

Coordinate terms

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(snowboarding):

Translations

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Snowboarding
  • Bulgarian: please add this translation if you can
  • Finnish: switch  (fi) (slang)
  • French: switch  (fr)
Skiing
  • Bulgarian: please add this translation if you can
  • Finnish: switch  (fi) (slang)
  • French: switch  (fr)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. "switch (n.), sense I.3.a," June 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/4056072461.
  2. ^ BBC Sport, "Sochi 2014: A jargon-busting guide to the halfpipe", 11 February 2014

Further reading

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Dutch

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Borrowed from English switch .

Noun

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switch m (plural switches , diminutive switchje  n)

  1. switch (act of switching)
    Synonyms: wissel , verandering , overgang
    Hij maakte een grote switch in zijn leven door te verhuizen. ― He made a big switch in his life by moving to a new place.
  2. (BDSM ) switch (person interested in acting both in a dominant and a submissive sexual role)
Derived terms
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Etymology 2

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See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

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switch

  1. inflection of switchen :
    1. first-person singular present indicative
    2. (in case of inversion) second-person singular present indicative
    3. imperative

Finnish

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Etymology

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From English switch .

Pronunciation

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Noun

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switch

  1. (BDSM ) switch

Declension

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Inflection of switch (Kotus type 5/risti , no gradation)
nominative switch switchit
genitive switchin switchien
partitive switchiä switchejä
illative switchiin switcheihin
singular plural
nominative switch switchit
accusative nom. switch switchit
gen. switchin
genitive switchin switchien
partitive switchiä switchejä
inessive switchissä switcheissä
elative switchistä switcheistä
illative switchiin switcheihin
adessive switchillä switcheillä
ablative switchiltä switcheiltä
allative switchille switcheille
essive switchinä switcheinä
translative switchiksi switcheiksi
abessive switchittä switcheittä
instructive — switchein
comitative See the possessive forms below.
Possessive forms of switch (Kotus type 5/risti , no gradation)
first-person singular possessor
singular plural
nominative switchini switchini
accusative nom. switchini switchini
gen. switchini
genitive switchini switchieni
partitive switchiäni switchejäni
inessive switchissäni switcheissäni
elative switchistäni switcheistäni
illative switchiini switcheihini
adessive switchilläni switcheilläni
ablative switchiltäni switcheiltäni
allative switchilleni switcheilleni
essive switchinäni switcheinäni
translative switchikseni switcheikseni
abessive switchittäni switcheittäni
instructive — —
comitative — switcheineni
second-person singular possessor
singular plural
nominative switchisi switchisi
accusative nom. switchisi switchisi
gen. switchisi
genitive switchisi switchiesi
partitive switchiäsi switchejäsi
inessive switchissäsi switcheissäsi
elative switchistäsi switcheistäsi
illative switchiisi switcheihisi
adessive switchilläsi switcheilläsi
ablative switchiltäsi switcheiltäsi
allative switchillesi switcheillesi
essive switchinäsi switcheinäsi
translative switchiksesi switcheiksesi
abessive switchittäsi switcheittäsi
instructive — —
comitative — switcheinesi
first-person plural possessor
singular plural
nominative switchimme switchimme
accusative nom. switchimme switchimme
gen. switchimme
genitive switchimme switchiemme
partitive switchiämme switchejämme
inessive switchissämme switcheissämme
elative switchistämme switcheistämme
illative switchiimme switcheihimme
adessive switchillämme switcheillämme
ablative switchiltämme switcheiltämme
allative switchillemme switcheillemme
essive switchinämme switcheinämme
translative switchiksemme switcheiksemme
abessive switchittämme switcheittämme
instructive — —
comitative — switcheinemme
second-person plural possessor
singular plural
nominative switchinne switchinne
accusative nom. switchinne switchinne
gen. switchinne
genitive switchinne switchienne
partitive switchiänne switchejänne
inessive switchissänne switcheissänne
elative switchistänne switcheistänne
illative switchiinne switcheihinne
adessive switchillänne switcheillänne
ablative switchiltänne switcheiltänne
allative switchillenne switcheillenne
essive switchinänne switcheinänne
translative switchiksenne switcheiksenne
abessive switchittänne switcheittänne
instructive — —
comitative — switcheinenne
third-person possessor
singular plural
nominative switchinsä switchinsä
accusative nom. switchinsä switchinsä
gen. switchinsä
genitive switchinsä switchiensä
partitive switchiään
switchiänsä 		switchejään
switchejänsä
inessive switchissään
switchissänsä 		switcheissään
switcheissänsä
elative switchistään
switchistänsä 		switcheistään
switcheistänsä
illative switchiinsä switcheihinsä
adessive switchillään
switchillänsä 		switcheillään
switcheillänsä
ablative switchiltään
switchiltänsä 		switcheiltään
switcheiltänsä
allative switchilleen
switchillensä 		switcheilleen
switcheillensä
essive switchinään
switchinänsä 		switcheinään
switcheinänsä
translative switchikseen
switchiksensä 		switcheikseen
switcheiksensä
abessive switchittään
switchittänsä 		switcheittään
switcheittänsä
instructive — —
comitative — switcheineen
switcheinensä

French

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Etymology

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    Borrowed from English switch .

    Pronunciation

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    Adjective

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    switch

    1. (skiing , snowboarding ) switch
    2. (especially BDSM ) One who is willing to take either a submissive or a dominant role in a sexual relationship.

    Portuguese

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    Etymology

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      Unadapted borrowing from English switch .

      Pronunciation

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      Noun

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      switch m (plural switches or switch)

      1. (networking ) switch (device connecting multiple wires, allowing them to communicate simultaneously)
      2. (computing ) switch (command line notation allowing specification of optional behaviour)
      3. (programming ) switch (construct that takes different actions depending on the value of an expression)

      AltStyle によって変換されたページ (->オリジナル) /