Main Entry: ²switch

Function: verb

Date: circa 1611

transitive verb

1 : to strike or beat with or as if with a switch
2 : whisk, lash <a cat switching its tail>
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 (as 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>intransitive verb 1 : to lash from side to side
2 : to make a shift or exchange

— switch·able \ˈswi-chə-bəl\ adjective

— switch·er noun