Topic: DAILY LIFE
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| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Origin: | Perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch 'small thin stick' |
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switch2 S3 [countable]
1 a piece of equipment that starts or stops the flow of electricity to a machine, light etc when you push it :
on/off
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.
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.
Petrol can be chosen at the flick of a switch.2 a complete change from one thing to another : an important policy switch
change
[usually singular]an important policy switch 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!'
'Ed's the only one who's not eating.' 'That's a switch!'3 a piece of railway track that can be moved to allow a train to cross over from one track to another
railway
American English4 a thin stick that bends easily
