Library / English Dictionary

SWITCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of changing one thing or position for another

Example:

his switch on abortion cost him the election

Synonyms:

shift; switch; switching

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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

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)

Sense 2

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 3

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 4

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

electric switch; electrical switch; switch

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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 5

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 6

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 7

Meaning:

An event in which one thing is substituted for another

Example:

the replacement of lost blood by a transfusion of donor blood

Synonyms:

permutation; replacement; substitution; switch; transposition

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

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)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

exchange; switch; switch over

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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 3

Meaning:

Make a shift in or exchange of

Example:

First Joe led; then we switched

Synonyms:

change over; shift; switch

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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 4

Meaning:

Lay aside, abandon, or leave for another

Example:

The car changed lanes

Synonyms:

change; shift; switch

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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 5

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 6

Meaning:

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

Example:

throw the lever

Synonyms:

flip; switch; throw

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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 7

Meaning:

Exchange or give (something) in exchange for

Synonyms:

swap; switch; swop; trade

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

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)

Credits

 Context examples: 

In developing rat neurons, we found that Shank 2 and 3 accumulate at synapses in parallel with a switch to mature AMPARs.

(Zinc Deficiency during Pregnancy Linked to Autism in Babies, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

It up-regulates CD23 and MHC class II expression, and promotes IgE isotype switching of B cells.

(Interleukin-13, NCI Thesaurus/LocusLink)

Mutated forms of G-protein genes which encode a diverse group of regulatory proteins that act as molecular switches.

(Oncogenes, G-Proteins, NCI Thesaurus)

This suggests you may have a period of orientation and adjustment, which makes sense when you make a big switch.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The researchers found that the genes contain the biological directions for how the toxin is made; these genes are "switched on" when Pseudo-nitzschia is producing domoic acid.

(Scientists discover genetic basis for how harmful algae blooms become toxic, National Science Foundation)

Near the door I saw the gleam of an electric switch, but it was unnecessary, even if it had been safe, to turn it on.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Any memory device that retains its stored data when the power is switched off.

(Persistent Memory Device, NCI Thesaurus)

The switch from childhood to adolescence brought about neurobiological, psychological and neuro-adaptive changes, which happen at the same time as important physical and hormonal transformations.

(Half of mental health disorders arise in adolescence, SciDev.Net)

The diet cycles switched on genes in the adult mice that are normally active only in the developing pancreases of fetal mice.

(Fasting-Mimicking Diet May Reverse Diabetes, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

To get protection throughout the night, the light would need to be switched on every two hours, which would disrupt human sleeping patterns as well as mosquito biting behaviour.

(Shining light at night quells mosquito bites, SciDev.Net)