switch - Dictionary definition and pronunciation - Yahoo! Education
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switch  audio  (swch) KEY 

NOUN:
  1. A slender flexible rod, stick, or twig, especially one used for whipping.
  2. The bushy tip of the tail of certain animals: a cow's switch.
  3. A thick strand of real or synthetic hair used as part of a coiffure.
  4. A flailing or lashing, as with a slender rod.
  5. A device used to break or open an electric circuit or to divert current from one conductor to another.
  6. A device consisting of two sections of railroad track and accompanying apparatus used to transfer rolling stock from one track to another.
    1. The act or process of operating a switching device.
    2. The result achieved by such an act.
  8. An exchange or a swap, especially one done secretly.
  9. A transference or shift, as of opinion or attention.
VERB:
switched, switch·ing, switch·es
VERB:
tr.
  1. Chiefly Southern U.S. To whip with or as if with a switch, especially in punishing a child.
  2. To jerk or swish abruptly or sharply: a cat switching its tail.
  3. To shift, transfer, or divert: switched the conversation to a lighter subject.
  4. To exchange: asked her brother to switch seats with her.
  5. To connect, disconnect, or divert (an electric current) by operating a switch.
  6. To cause (an electric current or appliance) to begin or cease operation: switched the lights on and off.
  7. Informal To produce as if by operating a control. Often used with on: switched on the charm.
  8. To move (rolling stock) from one track to another; shunt.
VERB:
intr.
  1. To make or undergo a shift or an exchange: The office has switched to shorter summer hours.
  2. To swish sharply from side to side.

PHRASAL VERB:
switch off Informal
To stop paying attention; lose interest.
ETYMOLOGY:
Probably of Low German or Flemish origin

OTHER FORMS:
switcha·ble(Adjective), switcher(Noun)


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