1.  switch(n = noun.artifact) electric switch, electrical switch - control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit;
is a kind of control, controller
has particulars: commutator, cutout, ignition switch, button, push, push button, selector, selector switch, three-point switch, three-way switch, time-switch, on-off switch, on/off switch, toggle, toggle switch
Derived form verb switch₅

2.  switch(n = noun.event) permutation, replacement, substitution, transposition - an event in which one thing is substituted for another; "the replacement of lost blood by a transfusion of donor blood"
is a kind of fluctuation, variation
Derived forms verb switch₇, verb switch₁, verb switch₂

3.  switch(n = noun.artifact) - hairpiece consisting of a tress of false hair; used by women to give shape to a coiffure;
is a kind of false hair, hairpiece, postiche

4.  switch(n = noun.artifact) - railroad track having two movable rails and necessary connections; used to turn a train from one track to another or to store rolling stock;
is a kind of railroad, railroad track, railway

5.  switch(n = noun.artifact) - a flexible implement used as an instrument of punishment;
is a kind of instrument of punishment
has particulars: birch, birch rod, cane, ferule, ratan, rattan
Derived form verb switch₆

6.  switch(n = noun.act) - a basketball maneuver; two defensive players shift assignments so that each guards the player usually guarded by the other;
is a kind of basketball play

7.  switch(n = noun.act) shift, switching - the act of changing one thing or position for another; "his switch on abortion cost him the election"
is a kind of change
has particulars: switcheroo
Derived forms verb switch₇, verb switch₁, verb switch₄, verb switch₃

1.  switch(v = verb.change) exchange, switch over - change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence;
is one way to change by reversal, reverse, turn
Derived forms noun switch₇, noun switch₂
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s; Somebody ----s something PP; Somebody ----s PP

2.  switch(v = verb.possession) swap, swop, trade - exchange or give (something) in exchange for;
is one way to change, exchange, interchange
Derived forms noun switch₂, noun switching₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s; Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s something PP

3.  switch(v = verb.change) change, shift - lay aside, abandon, or leave for another; "switch to a different brand of beer"; "She switched psychiatrists"; "The car changed lanes"
Derived form noun switch₇
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s; Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody

4.  switch(v = verb.change) change over, shift - make a shift in or exchange of; "First Joe led; then we switched"
is one way to alter, change, modify
Derived forms noun switch₇, noun switching₁
Sample sentences: Something ----s; Somebody ----s; Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something

5.  switch(v = verb.contact) flip, throw - cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation; "switch on the light"; "throw the lever"
is one way to engage, lock, mesh, operate
Derived form noun switch₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

6.  switch(v = verb.contact) - flog with or as if with a flexible rod;
is one way to flog, lash, lather, slash, strap, trounce, welt, whip
Derived forms noun switch₅, noun switcher₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s somebody

7.  switch(v = verb.change) alternate, flip, flip-flop, interchange, tack - reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action);
is one way to change by reversal, reverse, turn
Derived forms noun switch₇, noun switch₂
Sample sentences: Something ----s; Somebody ----s something

1.  A small, flexible twig or rod. [1913 Webster]
"Mauritania, on the fifth medal, leads a horse with something like a thread; in her other hand she holds a switch." [1913 Webster]

2.  A movable part of a rail; or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to another. [1913 Webster]

3.  A separate mass or trees of hair, or of some substance (at jute) made to resemble hair, worn on the head by women. [1913 Webster]

4.  A device for shifting an electric current to another circuit, or for making and breaking a circuit. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

1.  To strike with a switch or small flexible rod; to whip. Chapman. [1913 Webster]

2.  To swing or whisk; as, to switch a cane. [1913 Webster]

3.  To trim, as, a hedge. Halliwell. [1913 Webster]

4.  To turn from one railway track to another; to transfer by a switch; -- generally with off, from, etc.; as, to switch off a train; to switch a car from one track to another. [1913 Webster]

5.  To shift to another circuit. [1913 Webster]

   To walk with a jerk. [1913 Webster]

switch, n. & v.
--n.
1 a device for making and breaking the connection in an electric circuit.
2 a a transfer, change-over, or deviation. b an exchange.
3 a slender flexible shoot cut from a tree.
4 a light tapering rod.
5 US a device at the junction of railway tracks for transferring a train from one track to another; = POINT n. 17.
6 a tress of false or detached hair tied at one end used in hairdressing.
--v.
1 tr. (foll. by on, off) turn (an electrical device) on or off.
2 intr. change or transfer position, subject, etc.
3 tr. change or transfer.
4 tr. reverse the positions of; exchange (switched chairs).
5 tr. swing or snatch (a thing) suddenly (switched it out of my hand).
6 tr. beat or flick with a switch.

Idiom:
switch-blade a pocket knife with the blade released by a spring. switched-on colloq.
1 up to date; aware of what is going on.
2 excited; under the influence of drugs. switch off colloq. cease to pay attention. switch over change or exchange. switch-over n. a change or exchange.

Derivative:
switcher n.

Etymology:
earlier swits, switz, prob. f. LG

VB  punish, chastise, chasten, castigate, correct, inflict punishment, administer correction, deal retributive justice, cowhide, lambaste, visit upon, pay, pay out, serve out, do for, make short work of, give a lesson to, serve one right, make an example of, have a rod in pickle for, give it one, strike, deal a blow to, administer the lash, smite, slap, slap the face, smack, cuff, box the ears, spank, thwack, thump, beat, lay on, swinge, buffet, thresh, thrash, pummel, drub, leather, trounce, sandbag, baste, belabor, lace, lace one's jacket, dress, dress down, give a dressing, trim, warm, wipe, tund, cob, bang, strap, comb, lash, lick, larrup, wallop, whop, flog, scourge, whip, birch, cane, give the stick, switch, flagellate, horsewhip, bastinado, towel, rub down with an oaken towel, rib roast, dust one's jacket, fustigate, pitch into, lay about one, beat black and blue, beat to a mummy, beat to a jelly, give a black eye, tar and feather, pelt, stone, lapidate, masthead, keelhaul, execute, bring to the block, bring to the gallows, behead, decapitate, guillotine, decollate, hang, turn off, gibbet, bowstring, hang draw and quarter, shoot, decimate, burn, break on the wheel, crucify, empale, impale, flay, lynch, electrocute, gas, send to the gas chamber, torture, put on, put to the rack, picket, banish, exile, transport, expel, ostracize, rusticate, drum out, dismiss, disbar, disbench, strike off the roll, unfrock, post, suffer, suffer for, suffer punishment, be flogged, be executed, suffer the ultimate penalty, be hanged, come to the gallows, mount the gallows, swing, twist in the wind, dance upon nothing, die in one's shoes, be rightly served, be electrocuted, fry, ride the lightning, face the firing squad.

N  scourge, rod, cane, stick, ratan, rattan, birch, birch rod, azote, blacksnake, bullwhack, chicote, kurbash, quirt, rawhide, sjambok, rod in pickle, switch, ferule, cudgel, truncheon, whip, bullwhip, lash, strap, thong, cowhide, knout, cat, cat o'nine tails, rope's end, pillory, stocks, whipping post, cucking stool, ducking stool, brank, trebuchet, trebuket, triangle, wooden horse, iron maiden, thumbscrew, boot, rack, wheel, iron heel, chinese water torture, treadmill, crank, galleys, scaffold, block, ax, guillotine, stake, cross, gallows, gibbet, tree, drop, noose, rope, halter, bowstring, death chair, electric chair, gas chamber, lethal injection, firing squad, mecate, house of correction, goaler, jailer, executioner, electrocutioner, lyncher, hangman, headsman, Jack Ketch.

bait and switch, dip switch, dual inline package switch, electric switch, electrical switch, ignition switch, knife switch, on-off switch, on/off switch, point switch, selector switch, split switch, switch cane, switch engine, switch grass, switch off, switch on, switch over, three-point switch, three-way switch, toggle switch, underload switch