I. ˈswich noun
( -es )
Etymology: perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch bough, branch, twig
1. : a slender flexible whip, rod, or twig
a riding switch
2.
[ switch (II) ]
: an act of switching : the action or office of one who switches: as
a. : a blow with a switch
b. : a turn of a switch
c. : a changing or switching from one (as an investment) to another
d. : a reversal or distinct variation of a familiar or usual mode or situation : a decided or unexpected change from the usual
e. : a shift to another suit than that previously led by one's side in bridge
3. : a tuft of long hairs at the end of the tail of an animal (as a cow or ox) — see cow illustration
4.
a. : a device made usually of two movable rails, necessary connections, and operating parts and designed to turn a locomotive or train from a track on which it is running to another track
b. : a railroad sidetrack
5. : a device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit
6. : a heavy strand of usually long cut hair fastened at one end and used in addition to a person's own hair for some hairdresses
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to strike, beat, whip, or flog with or as if with a switch
lower branches of the hornbeam switching the back of his head — J.C.Powys
b. : to stir up, drive away, or spur on with or as if with a switch
horses contentedly switching flies — B.A.Williams
2.
a. : swing , whisk , lash
switch a cane
horse switches his tail
b. : to jerk or pull with a jerk
the rope may be switched out of your hand
3.
a. : to turn aside : divert , shift , change
switch methods
switch places
switch one's vote
switch the talk to another subject
b. : to dispose of (one issue of securities) and invest the proceeds in another
c. of a produce exchange : to transfer a futures contract from one month to another
4.
a. : to turn from one railroad track to another : transfer by a switch : shunt
b. : to move (cars) to different positions on the same track within terminal areas
5.
a. : to shift to another electrical circuit by means of a switch
b. : to operate an electrical switch so as to turn off or on
switch off a current
switch on a light
intransitive verb
1. : to move by or as if by being swung or lashed from side to side
the cat's tail switching
her black hair in a long thick braid switching to the speed of the … hoofs — Edna Ferber
2. : to move off on or as if on a spur track
3.
a. : to change or shift things, places, methods, actions, or directions
b. : to lead a suit other than that which one's side previously led in a card game