plural switches
1
: a slender flexible whip, rod, or twig
a riding switch
2
: an act of switching: such as
a
: a blow with a switch
b
: a shift from one to another
c
: a change from the usual
that outfit is a switch
3
: a tuft of long hairs at the end of the tail of an animal (such as a cow) see cow illustration
4
: a device made usually of two movable rails and necessary connections and designed to turn a locomotive or train from one track to another
5
a
: a device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit
b
: a software icon that is used to select between one of usually two available states
Tap Edit and then toggle the switch next to each supported service to the appropriate setting.—Jason Cipriani
Other features … include: … A software switch that lets you change the side button's function to be either volume mute or orientation lock.—Matt Rosoff
6
: a heavy strand of hair used in addition to a person's own hair for some coiffures
switched; switching; switches
1
: to strike or beat with or as if with a switch
3
a(1)
: to turn from one railroad track to another : shunt
(2)
: to move (cars) to different positions on the same track within terminal areas
b
: to make a shift in or exchange of
switch seats
4
a
: to shift to another electrical circuit by means of a switch
b(1)
: to operate an electrical switch so as to turn (a device) on or off
—usually used with on or off
(2)
: to change to or from an active state
—usually used with on or off
switched on the gene
switcher
noun
switch·er
ˈswichə(r)
plural -s
: one that switches: such as
a
b
c
: a petroleum worker who controls the flow of oil from wells to tanks to pipelines according to proration
called also switchman
d
: a television technician who operates the equipment that cuts, fades, or dissolves from one picture to another and regulates the brightness of the image
Cite this Entry
“Switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/switch. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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