SWITCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does switch mean? 

• SWITCH (noun)
  The noun SWITCH has 7 senses:

1. control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit

2. an event in which one thing is substituted for another

3. hairpiece consisting of a tress of false hair; used by women to give shape to a coiffure

4. railroad track having two movable rails and necessary connections; used to turn a train from one track to another or to store rolling stock

5. a flexible implement used as an instrument of punishment

6. a basketball maneuver; two defensive players shift assignments so that each guards the player usually guarded by the other

7. the act of changing one thing or position for another

  Familiarity information: SWITCH used as a noun is common.

• SWITCH (verb)
  The verb SWITCH has 7 senses:

1. change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence

2. exchange or give (something) in exchange for

3. lay aside, abandon, or leave for another

4. make a shift in or exchange of

5. cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation

6. flog with or as if with a flexible rod

7. reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)

  Familiarity information: SWITCH used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SWITCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

electric switch; electrical switch; switch

Hypernyms ("switch" is a kind of...):

control; controller (a mechanism that controls the operation of a machine)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "switch"):

on-off switch; on/off switch; toggle; toggle switch (a hinged switch that can assume either of two positions)

time-switch (a switch set to operate at a desired time)

three-point switch; three-way switch (an electric switch that has three terminals; used to control a circuit from two different locations)

selector; selector switch (a switch that is used to select among alternatives)

button; push; push button (an electrical switch operated by pressing)

ignition switch (switch that operates a solenoid that closes a circuit to operate the starter)

cutout (a switch that interrupts an electric circuit in the event of an overload)

commutator (switch for reversing the direction of an electric current)

Derivation:

switch (cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An event in which one thing is substituted for another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

permutation; replacement; substitution; switch; transposition

Context example:

the replacement of lost blood by a transfusion of donor blood

Hypernyms ("switch" is a kind of...):

fluctuation; variation (an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change)

Derivation:

switch (reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action))

switch (change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence)

switch (exchange or give (something) in exchange for)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Hairpiece consisting of a tress of false hair; used by women to give shape to a coiffure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("switch" is a kind of...):

false hair; hairpiece; postiche (a covering or bunch of human or artificial hair used for disguise or adornment)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Railroad track having two movable rails and necessary connections; used to turn a train from one track to another or to store rolling stock

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("switch" is a kind of...):

railroad; railroad track; railway (a line of track providing a runway for wheels)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A flexible implement used as an instrument of punishment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("switch" is a kind of...):

instrument of punishment (an instrument designed and used to punish a condemned person)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "switch"):

birch; birch rod (a switch consisting of a twig or a bundle of twigs from a birch tree; used to hit people as punishment)

cane (a stiff switch used to hit students as punishment)

ferule (a switch (a stick or cane or flat paddle) used to punish children)

ratan; rattan (a switch made from the stems of the rattan palms)

Derivation:

switch (flog with or as if with a flexible rod)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A basketball maneuver; two defensive players shift assignments so that each guards the player usually guarded by the other

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("switch" is a kind of...):

basketball play (a play executed by a basketball team)

Sense 7

Meaning:

The act of changing one thing or position for another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

shift; switch; switching

Context example:

his switch on abortion cost him the election

Hypernyms ("switch" is a kind of...):

change (the action of changing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "switch"):

switcheroo (a sudden unexpected switch)

Derivation:

switch (change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence)

switch (make a shift in or exchange of)

switch (lay aside, abandon, or leave for another)

switch (reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action))

• SWITCH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they switch    ... he / she / it switches   
Past simple: switched   
Past participle: switched   
-ing form: switching   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

exchange; switch; switch over

Hypernyms (to "switch" is one way to...):

change by reversal; reverse; turn (change to the contrary)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

switch (the act of changing one thing or position for another)

switch (an event in which one thing is substituted for another)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Exchange or give (something) in exchange for

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

swap; switch; swop; trade

Hypernyms (to "switch" is one way to...):

change; exchange; interchange (give to, and receive from, one another)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

switch (an event in which one thing is substituted for another)

switching (the act of changing one thing or position for another)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Lay aside, abandon, or leave for another

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

change; shift; switch

Context example:

The car changed lanes

Verb group:

change (change clothes; put on different clothes)

change; commute; convert; exchange (exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "switch"):

transition (make or undergo a transition (from one state or system to another))

shift (change gears)

break (change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another)

channel-surf; surf (switch channels, on television)

jump; leap (pass abruptly from one state or topic to another)

diphthongise; diphthongize (change from a simple vowel to a diphthong)

cut (make an abrupt change of image or sound)

break (change directions suddenly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

switch (the act of changing one thing or position for another)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make a shift in or exchange of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

change over; shift; switch

Context example:

First Joe led; then we switched

Hypernyms (to "switch" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "switch"):

back (shift to a counterclockwise direction)

veer (shift to a clockwise direction)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

switch; switching (the act of changing one thing or position for another)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

flip; switch; throw

Context example:

throw the lever

Hypernyms (to "switch" is one way to...):

engage; lock; mesh; operate (keep engaged)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "switch"):

switch on; turn on (cause to operate by flipping a switch)

cut; switch off; turn off; turn out (cause to stop operating by disengaging a switch)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

switch (control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Flog with or as if with a flexible rod

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "switch" is one way to...):

flog; lash; lather; slash; strap; trounce; welt; whip (beat severely with a whip or rod)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

switch (a flexible implement used as an instrument of punishment)

switcher (a person who administers punishment by wielding a switch or whip)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

alternate; flip; flip-flop; interchange; switch; tack

Hypernyms (to "switch" is one way to...):

change by reversal; reverse; turn (change to the contrary)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

switch (an event in which one thing is substituted for another)

switch (the act of changing one thing or position for another)

 Context examples 

This switch allows genes to 'turn on' so that the cell can respond to changes in the environment such as damage, and activate the regeneration program when needed.

(Regeneration mechanism discovered in mice could provide target for drugs to combat chronic liver disease, University of Cambridge)

The allele may play a role in the regulation of both immunoglobulin class switch recombination and DNA double strand break repair.

(H2AFX wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

Immunoglobulin class switch recombination is involved in the maturation of an immune respone toward a particular antigen.

(Immunoglobulin Class Switch Recombination, NCI Thesaurus)

It is involved in isotype or allotype switching and maturation of the immune response.

(Immunoglobulin Switch Region, NCI Thesaurus)

Genes (superfamily) that encode GTP hydrolyzing enzymes, which cycle between the GDP-bound inactive state and the GTP-bound active state acting as intracellular switches in various cellular pathways, such as signal transduction.

(GTPase Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

Within certain genes, gene rearrangement is a normal part of development, facilitating the affinity maturation of B and T lymphocytes as well as class switching of immunoglobulins.

(Gene Rearrangement, NCI Thesaurus)

A switch designed to control or regulate the operation of a device.

(Control Switch Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

IL-4 plays a role in the differentiation of Th2 cells, in allergic responses, and in the switching of antibody types.

(Cytokine Network Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

Ceramide-activated protein kinase(CARK) also known as Kinase Suppressor of RAS (KSR) activity is in some cases the switch point in the balance between proapoptotic and antiapoptotic signals and is also cell-type specific.

(Ceramide Signaling Pathway BioCarta, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

This allele, which encodes tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 5 protein, is involved in the modulation of T cell-dependent immunoglobulin class switching, memory B cell development, and germinal center formation.

(CD40 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)