switch
♦ switch /sw'ɪtʃ/ (switches switching switched)
1 [N-COUNT]
A switch is a small control for an electrical device which you use to turn the device on or off.
Leona put some detergent into the dishwasher, shut the door and pressed the switch.
...a light switch.
2 [VERB] V to n, V from n to n, V pl-n
If you switch to something different, for example to a different system, task, or subject of conversation, you change to it from what you were doing or saying before.
Estonia is switching to a market economy...
The law would encourage companies to switch from coal to cleaner fuels...
The encouragement of a friend spurred Chris into switching jobs.
= change
[N-COUNT] usu with supp
Switch is also a noun.
New technology made a switch to oil possible...
The spokesman implicitly condemned the United States policy switch.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to n
Switch over means the same as switch.
...a professional man who started out in law but switched over to medicine.
3 [VERB] V to n, V n to n
If you switch your attention from one thing to another or if your attention switches, you stop paying attention to the first thing and start paying attention to the second.
My mother's interest had switched to my health...
As the era wore on, she switched her attention to films.
4 [VERB] V pl-n, V pl-n
If you switch two things, you replace one with the other.
In half an hour, they'd switched the tags on every cable...
The ballot boxes have been switched.
= swapswitch off
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you switch off a light or other electrical device, you stop it working by operating a switch.
She switched off the coffee-machine...
Glass parked the car and switched the engine off.
= turn off
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you switch off, you stop paying attention or stop thinking or worrying about something. (INFORMAL)
You may find you've got so many things to think about that it's difficult to switch off.switch on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you switch on a light or other electrical device, you make it start working by operating a switch.
She emptied both their mugs and switched on the electric kettle...
He pointed the light at his feet and tried to switch it on.
= turn onswitch over
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you switch over when you are watching television, you change to another channel.
I just happened to switch over although I haven't been watching the Olympics...
Let's switch over to Channel 4.
2
see switch 2time switch (time switches)
[N-COUNT]
A time switch is a device that causes a machine to start or stop working at specific times.
1 [N-COUNT]
A switch is a small control for an electrical device which you use to turn the device on or off.
Leona put some detergent into the dishwasher, shut the door and pressed the switch.
...a light switch.
2 [VERB] V to n, V from n to n, V pl-n
If you switch to something different, for example to a different system, task, or subject of conversation, you change to it from what you were doing or saying before.
Estonia is switching to a market economy...
The law would encourage companies to switch from coal to cleaner fuels...
The encouragement of a friend spurred Chris into switching jobs.
= change
[N-COUNT] usu with supp
Switch is also a noun.
New technology made a switch to oil possible...
The spokesman implicitly condemned the United States policy switch.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to n
Switch over means the same as switch.
...a professional man who started out in law but switched over to medicine.
3 [VERB] V to n, V n to n
If you switch your attention from one thing to another or if your attention switches, you stop paying attention to the first thing and start paying attention to the second.
My mother's interest had switched to my health...
As the era wore on, she switched her attention to films.
4 [VERB] V pl-n, V pl-n
If you switch two things, you replace one with the other.
In half an hour, they'd switched the tags on every cable...
The ballot boxes have been switched.
= swapswitch off
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you switch off a light or other electrical device, you stop it working by operating a switch.
She switched off the coffee-machine...
Glass parked the car and switched the engine off.
= turn off
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you switch off, you stop paying attention or stop thinking or worrying about something. (INFORMAL)
You may find you've got so many things to think about that it's difficult to switch off.switch on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you switch on a light or other electrical device, you make it start working by operating a switch.
She emptied both their mugs and switched on the electric kettle...
He pointed the light at his feet and tried to switch it on.
= turn onswitch over
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you switch over when you are watching television, you change to another channel.
I just happened to switch over although I haven't been watching the Olympics...
Let's switch over to Channel 4.
2
see switch 2time switch (time switches)
[N-COUNT]
A time switch is a device that causes a machine to start or stop working at specific times.