switch

I. noun Etymology: perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch twig Date: 1592 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 II. 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 • switchable adjective • switcher noun