switch

¹switch

noun \ˈswich\

Definition of SWITCH

1

: a slender flexible whip, rod, or twig <a riding switch>

2

: an act of switching: 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 (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 device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit

6

: a heavy strand of hair used in addition to a person's own hair for some coiffures

Examples of SWITCH

1. She flicked a switch and turned the lamp on.
2. He threw the switch to stop the machine.

Origin of SWITCH

perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch twig

First Known Use: 1592

Related to SWITCH

Synonyms: flogger, lash, scourge, whip

Related Words: birch, blacksnake, bullwhip, cat-o'-nine-tails, cowhide, crop, hickory, knout, quirt, rattan, rawhide, strap; bastinado (or bastinade), bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, flail, nightstick, staff

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with SWITCH

bitch, ditch, fitch, flitch, glitch, hitch, itch, kitsch, niche, pitch, quitch, rich, snitch, stitch, such, twitch, which, witch