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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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    • enPR: swĭch, IPA(key): /swɪt͡ʃ/
    • Audio (US):(file)
    • Rhymes: -ɪtʃ

    Noun

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    switch (countable and uncountable, plural switches)

    2. A device to turn electric current on and off or direct its flow.
    3. 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.
    4. (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.
    5. 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.."
    6. (music) Synonym of rute.
    7. (computer science) A command line notation allowing specification of optional behavior.
      Use the /b switch to specify black-and-white printing.
    8. (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):
    9. (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.
    10. (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.
    11. (genetics) A mechanism within DNA that activates or deactivates a gene.
    12. (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.
    13. (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.
    14. (card games, uncountable) A variant of crazy eights where one card, such as an ace, reverses the direction of play.
    15. (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).
    16. (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.
    17. (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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    • → Gulf Arabic: سويچ (swīč)
    • → German: Switch

    Translations

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    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.
      • 1899 March, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number MI, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part II:
        They were looking on the ground, absorbed in thought. The manager was switching his leg with a slender twig: his sagacious relative lifted his head.
      • 1950, Dorothy M. Johnson, Flame on the Frontier; in Indian Country, London: Corgi, 1961, page 11:
        "Am I going to have to switch you?"
    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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    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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    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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      Etymology tree
      Middle Dutch swijchbor.?
      English switchubor.
      Portuguese switch

        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)
        Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=switch&oldid=92514995"