switch

English Online Dictionary. What means switch‎? What does switch mean?

English

Etymology

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, which were once wooden.

Pronunciation

• enPR: swĭch, IPA^(key): /swɪt͡ʃ/
• Rhymes: -ɪtʃ

Noun

switch (plural switches)

1. A device to turn electric current on and off or direct its flow.
2. A change or exchange.
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 slender woody plant stem used as a whip; a thin, flexible rod, associated with corporal punishment in the United States.
5. (music) Synonym of rute.
6. (computer science) A command line notation allowing specification of optional behavior.

7. (computing, programming) A programming construct that takes different actions depending on the value of an expression.
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.
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.

Synonyms

• (section of railroad track): (UK) points
• (whip): crop
• (command-line notation): flag, option, specifier

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Descendants

• → Gulf Arabic: سويچ (swīč)
• → German: Switch

Translations

Verb

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

1. (transitive) To exchange.

2. (transitive) To change (something) to the specified state using a switch.

3. (transitive, in modern times Southern US) To whip or hit with a switch.
4. (intransitive) To change places, tasks, etc.

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.

8. To trim.
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

10. (ecclesiastical) To shift to another circuit.
11. (intransitive) To take on the opposite role (leader vs. follower) in a partner dance.

Synonyms

• (to exchange): interchange, swap; See also Thesaurus:switch

Derived terms

Descendants

• → Dutch: switchen
• → German: switchen

Translations

Adjective

switch (not comparable)

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

Coordinate terms

(snowboarding):

• goofy
• regular

Translations

See also

• switch off
• switch on

References

Further reading

• switch on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• switch (corporal punishment) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Dutch

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Borrowed from English switch.

Noun

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

Related terms

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

switch

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

Finnish

Etymology

From English switch.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈswitʃ/, [ˈs̠wit̪ʃ]
• Rhymes: -itʃ

Noun

switch

1. (BDSM) switch

Declension

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English switch.

Pronunciation

Adjective

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

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English switch.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈswit͡ʃ/

Noun

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)