SWITCH • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Switch

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/swɪtʃ/ Listen

noun

Switch n.

1.

A small, flexible twig or rod. "Mauritania, on the fifth medal, leads a horse with something like a thread; in her other hand she holds a switch."

2.

(Railways) A movable part of a rail; or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to another.

3.

A separate mass or trees of hair, or of some substance (at jute) made to resemble hair, worn on the head by women.

4.

(Elec.) A device for shifting an electric current to another circuit, or for making and breaking a circuit.

Safety switch (Railways), a form of switch contrived to prevent or lessen the danger of derailment of trains.

Switch back (Railways), an arrangement of tracks whereby elevations otherwise insurmountable are passed. The track ascends by a series of zigzags, the engine running alternately forward and back, until the summit is reached.

Switch board (Elec.), a collection of switches in one piece of apparatus, so arranged that a number of circuits may be connected or combined in any desired manner.

Switch grass. (Bot.) See under Grass.

verb

Switch v. t. (past & past part. switched; pres. part. switching)

1.

To strike with a switch or small flexible rod; to whip.

2.

To swing or whisk; as, to switch a cane.

3.

To trim, as, a hedge. (Prov. Eng.)

4.

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

5.

(Eccl.) To shift to another circuit.

Switch v. i. To walk with a jerk. (Prov. Eng.)

See images of 'Switch'

Etymology of 'Switch'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Switch" Quotes from Famous Books

... their way through the darkness of the tunnel. At the turn Ruth kicked something, and, stooping, secured Chess' electric torch. She pressed the switch and the illumination allowed the two young men to overtake them with more certainty, Chess backing out with his pistol trained on the opening into ...

— Ruth Fielding on the St. Lawrence - The Queer Old Man of the Thousand Islands • Alice B. Emerson

... exclamation that sounded as much like "Whump!" as anything else. He uttered another and less forced exclamation when he discovered in the tangle of brush that had broken his fall, another rabbit that had not survived his sudden visitation. He picked up the limp, furry shape. "Asleep at the switch," he said. "He ain't much bigger than a whisper, ...

— Sundown Slim • Henry Hubert Knibbs

... should the American railway man afford time to say that? Separation was pretty and apt, but needless; and with the sloughing of two syllables came the brief, businesslike result—Separ. Chicago, 1137-1/2 miles. It was labelled on a board large almost as the hut station. A Y-switch, two sidings, the fat water-tank and steam-pump, and a section-house with three trees before it composed the north side. South of the track were no trees. There was one long siding by the corrals and cattle-chute, there were a hovel where plug tobacco ...

— Lin McLean • Owen Wister

... nothing. Between eight and nine o'clock in the morning of the 6th, so soon after the massacre that the court of the castle was still stained with blood, he went and showed himself to the people, with an enormous cockade in his hat, laughing, and flourishing a switch in his hand."—Standard ...

— History of the Girondists, Volume I - Personal Memoirs of the Patriots of the French Revolution • Alphonse de Lamartine

... latter's son, eleven years of age, was sent to reside with X. for educational purposes; and without proper cause, but under the pretext of educational necessities, this lad was severely mishandled by X. The boy was frequently taken from his bed, stripped naked, and then struck with a switch. The boy's mother stated that her boy had been put under the care of X. because the lad needed severe discipline, being untruthful and dishonest. Further charges were made against X. of various indecent acts against the boy. ...

— The Sexual Life of the Child • Albert Moll

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