switch

noun

A device to turn electric current on and off or direct its flow.

A change or exchange.

(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.

A slender woody plant stem used as a whip; a thin, flexible rod, associated with corporal punishment in the United States.

(music) Synonym of rute.

(computer science) A command line notation allowing specification of optional behavior.

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

(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.

(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.

(genetics) A mechanism within DNA that activates or deactivates a gene.

(especially BDSM) One who is willing to take either a submissive or a dominant role in a sexual relationship.

(card games) A variant of crazy eights where one card, such as an ace, reverses the direction of play.

(firearms, slang) Synonym of Glock switch.

(slang, metonymic) A Glock pistol equipped with a Glock switch.

(sports) A play in which the ball (or equivalent) is moved from one side of the playing area to the other.

(multiplicity slang) The process of the currently fronting headmate changing; an instance of this.

(video games) Ellipsis of Nintendo Switch.

(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.

verb

(transitive) To exchange.

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

(transitive, in modern times Southern US) To whip or hit with a switch.

(intransitive) To change places, tasks, etc.

(slang, intransitive) To get angry suddenly; to quickly or unreasonably become enraged.

To swing or whisk.

To be swung or whisked.

To trim.

To turn from one railway track to another; to transfer by a switch; generally with off, from, etc.

(ecclesiastical) To shift to another circuit.

(intransitive) To take on the opposite role (leader vs. follower) in a partner dance.

(sports, transitive) To move (the ball or equivalent) from one side of the playing area to the other.

adjective

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

(freestyle skiing) Pertaining to skiing backwards.

Synonyms for switch

shiftn changen swapn interchangen substitutionn alternateadj replacementn exchangen counterchangev turnv transitionn permutev

Synonyms & related words for switch

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of switch — including shift, change, swap, interchange, substitution, alternate. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to switch

Explore words related to switch — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include switchable, flip, switchover, switcheroo, switchgear, thyratron, changeover, toggle. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for switch

Common synonyms for switch include shift, change, swap, interchange, substitution, alternate, replacement, exchange — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.