I. ˈswich 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 switch ing 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
switch ed 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