switch noun

1 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.

2 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

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.

You can also check other dicts: switch (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition

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