switch
[noun]
Synonyms:
- change, reversal, shift
- exchange, substitution, swap
[verb]
Synonyms:
- change, deflect, deviate, divert, shift
- exchange, substitute, swap

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English Thesaurus: exchange, change, swap, trade, switch, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

Switch trademark
in the past, a type of system used for paying for goods and services in the UK, by which customers used a type of plastic card called a debit card, and money was immediately taken out of their bank account. Since 2002, Switch has been replaced by Maestro, the Mastercard brand of debit card.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

I. switch¹ S2 W3 /swɪtʃ/ verb

1. [intransitive and transitive] to change from doing or using one thing to doing or using another
switch to
She worked as a librarian before switching to journalism.
switch from something to something
Duval could switch easily from French to English.
switch between something and something
He switches between TV and theatre work.
The terrorists will switch tactics.
switch sides/allegiance (=start supporting a different person, party etc)
He switched sides just days before the election.
switch attention/focus/emphasis
We want to switch focus away from criticism.

2. [transitive] to replace one thing with another, or exchange things Synonym : change
switch something for something
Tim may switch his BMW for something else.
switch something from something to something
We’ve switched the meeting from Tuesday to Thursday.
switch something around
It’s not easy to switch clerical workers around.

3. [intransitive and transitive] American English if you switch with someone who does the same job as you, you exchange your working times with theirs for a short time Synonym : swap
switch with
Tom said he’d switch with me on Saturday.
He asked if we could switch shifts.

4. [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to change the way a machine operates, using a switch
switch something to something
Switch the freezer to ‘defrost’.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. switch² S3 noun [countable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch 'small thin stick']

1. ON/OFF a piece of equipment that starts or stops the flow of electricity to a machine, light etc when you push it:
Where’s the light switch?
an on–off switch
press/flick/throw etc a switch
Tom flicked the switch, but nothing happened.
She claims she is willing to throw the switch of the electric chair.
at the flick of a switch (=very quickly and easily, by pressing a switch)
Petrol can be chosen at the flick of a switch.

2. CHANGE [usually singular] a complete change from one thing to another:
an important policy switch
switch from/to
the switch from agriculture to dairy production
switch in
a switch in emphasis
More shoppers are making the switch to organic food.
that’s a switch American English spoken informal (=used to say that someone’s behaviour is different from usual)
‘Ed’s the only one who’s not eating.’ ‘That’s a switch!’

3. RAILWAY American English a piece of railway track that can be moved to allow a train to cross over from one track to another

4. STICK old-fashioned a thin stick that bends easily

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

switch
noun
I. small button/lever
ADJ. mains, master, power The mains switch is in the cupboard under the stairs.
electric, electrical | dimmer, off, on, on-off, time, timer We fitted dimmer switches in all the bedrooms. I couldn't find the off switch on the remote control.
ignition, intercom, light
VERB + SWITCH flick, flip, press, pull, throw, turn off/on Someone threw a switch and the electricity went off.
SWITCH + VERB activate sth, control sth, operate sth This switch controls the heating system.
PREP. by (a) ~ The light operates by time switch.
on a ~ The heater is on a timer switch.
~ for the switch for the air conditioning
PHRASES at the flick of a switch in the days before electricity was available at the flick of a switch
a bank of switches The pilot reached across to the huge bank of switches on his right and flicked a couple.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

switch
II. change that sb makes
ADJ. abrupt, immediate, sudden | big | complete | tactical The team's manager made a shrewd tactical switch in defence.
VERB + SWITCH make
PREP. ~ away from There will be no overnight switch away from old voting habits.
~ back to, ~ between the recent switches between direct and indirect taxation
~ from her switch from full-time to part-time work
~ in their abrupt switch in allegiance
~ (over) to theatre directors who make the switch over to films

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

switch
verb
ADV. easily, readily | suddenly My mind suddenly switched back to my conversation with Jeremy.
around/round, back, over
VERB + SWITCH decide to He decided to switch tactics.
PREP. between The remote control allows you to switch easily between TV channels.
(away) from He switched his allegiance from the British to the French.
to, with We asked them if they would switch places with us.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

switch

switch sides (=start supporting someone or something else)
Three senators switched sides and voted for the ban.
switch (your) allegiance (=start supporting someone else)
Most of his supporters had switched their allegiance to his rival.
switch channels (=start watching a different TV channel)
Rod switched channels with the remote control.
switch tactics
Sensing that his victim was going to escape him, he switched tactics.
switch your attention/focus to something
Laura wasn't interested so he switched his attention to Tessa.
switch brands
46% of consumers surveyed were likely to switch brands to support companies they saw as socially responsible,
the emphasis switches/is switched to something
The emphasis has switched to defence.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

exchange to give something to someone, and receive a similar thing from them at the same time. Exchange is often used about people telling each other about their ideas, phone numbers, addresses etc:
They exchanged photographs before they met.
a place where people can exchange ideas
We exchanged email addresses.
if you are unhappy with the jacket, you can always take it back and exchange it for another one.
These coupons can be exchanged for meals and accommodation.
change to exchange something, especially money. Also used in British English about exchanging something you have bought for something different:
I need to change some dollars.
She changed all her money into euros.
We thought it was time we changed our car for something more modern.
swap (also do a swap British English) informal to give something to someone, who gives you something similar:
The two schools use the Internet to swap pictures, stories, and jokes.
I like your room better – do you want to do a swap?
trade (also do a trade American English) to exchange something that you have for something that someone else has:
The stolen phones are being traded for drugs.
The boys trade sports cards on the playground.
We've got lots of plants we don't need – do you want to do a trade?
switch to change the places of two or more people or things, so that each one is in the place the other was before:
Can I switch seats with you?
reciprocate to do or give something, because someone has done or given something similar to you – a rather formal use:
They invited us to dinner a while ago, and I'd like to reciprocate.
in exchange/return (for something) if you give something in exchange or in return for something else, you give it in order to get something else back:
Williams will plead guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence.
press a switch
He pressed a switch on the wall and the door opened.
flick/flip a switch (=move it so something starts or stops)
You start the fan by just flipping this switch.
throw a switch (=move it so something starts or stops, especially something big)
Could a nuclear war really be started by someone just throwing a switch?
a light switch
He reached for the light switch.
a dimmer switch (=a switch that can change the brightness of a light)
an on-off switch
I couldn’t find the on-off switch.
the power switch
They have reverted to placing the mains power switch at the back of the unit.
the mains switch (=one that controls the supply of electricity to a house)
The mains switch is located inside a cupboard near the front door.
at the flick/touch of a switch (=very quickly and easily, with a switch)
The advantages of having electricity available at the flick of a switch are obvious.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

switch
swɪtʃ
See: asleep at the switch

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲