switchnoun
uk/swɪtʃ/us/swɪtʃ/switch noun (DEVICE)
B1 [ C ] a small device, usually pushed up or down with your finger, that controls and turns on or off an electric current:
a place on a railway track where the rails (= metal bars on which the trains travel) can be moved to allow a train to change from one track to another:
More examples
- You turn the television on by flipping the switch at the side.
- Mysteriously, the light came on, although no one was near the switch.
- An additional power switch for the radio is handily located next to the steering wheel.
- She flicked the on-off switch.
- All these machines operate at the flick of a switch.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Electrical switches & connections
- connector
- cord
- cordless
- dimmer
- dimmer switch
- dip switch
- docking station
- electrical outlet
- ground
- jack
- jack plug
- plug (sth) in/plug (sth) into sth
- push-button
- put sth on
- put sth out 1
- remote control
- shaver point
- socket
- wiring
- zapper
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
switch noun (CHANGE)
[ C ] a sudden or complete change, especially of one person or thing for another
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Change and changes
- a change is as good as a rest idiom
- adjustment
- alteration
- blip
- changeover
- drift
- ebb
- fluctuate
- gradation
- metamorphosis
- modulate
- paradigm shift
- perversion
- punctuated equilibrium
- sea change
- shake-up
- speciation
- step change
- tide
- vicissitudes
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switchverb [ T, I usually + adv/prep ]
uk/swɪtʃ/us/swɪtʃ/switch verb [ T, I usually + adv/prep ] (DEVICE)
B1 to use a switch to change a device from one state or type of operation to another:
More examples
- Are you positive that you saw me switch the iron off?
- By toggling this key, you can switch the italics on and off.
- Could you switch on the radio?
- She switched to another channel to watch the football.
- The computer takes a few seconds to power up after it's been switched on.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Electricity & electronics
- anodize
- anti-static
- chargeable
- charger
- conduction
- destructive interference
- electric
- electric field
- electrical
- electromagnetic
- electrostatic
- flow
- generation
- homing
- input
- linesman
- rechargeable
- resistor
- solid-state
- transistorized
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switch verb [ T, I usually + adv/prep ] (CHANGE)
B2 to change suddenly or completely, especially from one thing to another, or to exchange by replacing one person or thing with another:
More examples
- The robbers switched the painting for a fake.
- We used to have oil-fired central heating, but now we've switched to gas.
- Many European countries have now switched over to the Euro.
- He's decided to switch the meeting from Monday to Thursday.
- Will you switch shifts with me on Friday?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Changing
- a new broom sweeps clean idiom
- about-turn
- alter
- alternate
- alternation
- bastardize
- convert
- fluid
- move on
- move the goalposts idiom
- move with the times idiom
- new
- new broom
- onto
- swing
- transfigure
- transform
- transitional
- transmogrify
- transmute
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