switch

switch¹ W3S2 [swıtʃ] v

1.) [I and T]

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 sth to sth

▪ Duval could switch easily from French to English.

switch between sth and sth

▪ 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 the focus away from criticism.

2.) [T]

to replace one thing with another, or exchange things

= ↑change switch sth for sth

▪ Tim may switch his BMW for something else.

switch sth from sth to sth

▪ We've switched the meeting from Tuesday to Thursday.

switch sth around

▪ It's not easy to switch clerical workers around.

3.) [I and T] AmE

if you switch with someone who does the same job as you, you exchange your working times with theirs for a short time

British Equivalent: swapswitch with

▪ Tom said he'd switch with me on Saturday.

▪ He asked if we could switch shifts.

4.) [T always + adverb/preposition]

to change the way a machine operates, using a switch

switch sth to sth

▪ Switch the freezer to 'defrost'.

switch off phr v

1.) to turn off a machine, light, radio etc using a switch

switch sth<=> off

▪ The burglar alarm was switched off.

▪ Don't forget to switch off before you go.

see usage note ↑close¹

2.) informal to stop listening to someone

▪ He just switches off and ignores me.

3.) to relax for a short time

▪ Switch off by listening to music.

switch on phr v

to turn on a machine, light, radio etc using a switch

switch sth<=>on

▪ He switched the torch on.

▪ When a tape is put in the VCR, it switches on automatically .

switch over phr v

1.) to change from one method, product etc to another

switch over to

▪ We've switched over to telephone banking.

2.) to change the television ↑channel you are watching or the radio station you are listening to

switch over to

▪ Switch over to BBC 2.

switch ²

switch² S3 n

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

1¦(on/off)¦

2¦(change)¦

3¦(railway)¦

4¦(stick)¦

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

[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

AmE 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)¦

AmE 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