different between switch vs variation

English

Etymology

Perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch (“twig”). First known use in c. 1592.

Pronunciation

• enPR: sw?ch, IPA^(key): /sw?t?/
• Rhymes: -?t?

Noun

switch (plural switches)

1. A device to turn electric current on and off or direct its flow.
2. A change or exchange.
3. (rail transport, US) A movable section of railroad track which allows the train to be directed down one of two destination tracks; (set of) points.
4. A slender woody plant stem used as a whip; a thin, flexible rod, associated with corporal punishment in the United States.
   • 2007, Jeffrey W. Hamilton, Raising Godly Children in a Wicked World, Lulu.com, page 15:

     "A proper switch is a slim, flexible branch off a tree or a bush. A switch applied to the buttocks stings fiercely. It may leave red marks or bruises, but it causes no lasting damage.."

5. (music) Synonym of rute.
6. (computer science) A command line notation allowing specification of optional behavior.

   Use the /b switch to specify black-and-white printing.

7. (computing, programming) A programming construct that takes different actions depending on the value of an expression.
   • 2004, "Curt", Can I use IF statements, and still use switches? (on newsgroup microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields)
8. (computing, networking) A networking device connecting multiple wires, allowing them to communicate simultaneously, when possible. Compare to the less efficient hub device that solely duplicates network packets to each wire.
9. (telecommunications) A system of specialized relays, computer hardware, or other equipment which allows the interconnection of a calling party's telephone line with any called party's line.
10. (genetics) A mechanism within DNA that activates or deactivates a gene.
11. (BDSM) One who is willing to take either a submissive or a dominant role in a sexual relationship.
    • 2012, Terri-Jean Bedford, Bondage Bungalow Fantasies (page 99)

      Ideally, if one of your ladies happens to be a switch (or would be willing to switch for this scene), I would love to be able to inflict a little "revenge tickling" as well, as part of a scenario.

12. (historical) A separate mass or tress of hair, or of some substance (such as jute) made to resemble hair, formerly worn on the head by women.

Synonyms

• (section of railroad track): (UK) points
• (whip): crop
• (command-line notation): flag, option, specifier

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

switch (third-person singular simple present switches, present participle switching, simple past and past participle switched)

1. (transitive) To exchange.

2. (transitive) To change (something) to the specified state using a switch.

3. (transitive, in modern times Southern US) To whip or hit with a switch.
4. (intransitive) To change places, tasks, etc.

5. (slang, intransitive) To get angry suddenly; to quickly or unreasonably become enraged.
6. To swing or whisk.

   to switch a cane

7. To be swung or whisked.

   The angry cat's tail switched back and forth.

8. To trim.

   to switch a hedge

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Halliwell to this entry?)

9. To turn from one railway track to another; to transfer by a switch; generally with off, from, etc.

   to switch off a train; to switch a car from one track to another

10. (ecclesiastical) To shift to another circuit.

Synonyms

• (to exchange): interchange, swap; See also Thesaurus:switch

Translations

Adjective

switch (not comparable)

1. (snowboarding) Pertaining to riding with the front and back feet swapped round compared to one's normal position.
2. (freestyle skiing) Pertaining to skiing backwards.

Coordinate terms

(snowboarding):

• goofy
• regular

Translations

See also

• switch off
• switch on

References

Further reading

• switch on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• switch (corporal punishment) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Finnish

Noun

switch

1. (BDSM) switch

Declension

French

Etymology

English switch

Adjective

switch

1. (skiing, snowboarding) switch.

Portuguese

Etymology

From English switch.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /?swit??/

Noun

switch m (plural switches or switch)

1. (networking) switch (device connecting multiple wires, allowing them to communicate simultaneously)
2. (computing) switch (command line notation allowing specification of optional behaviour)
3. (programming) switch (construct that takes different actions depending on the value of an expression)

English

Etymology

From Middle French variation, from Old French variacion, from Latin vari?ti?.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?v?????e??n?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?v???i?e??n?/, /?væ?i?e??n?/, /?v??i?e??n?/
• , (Mary–marry–merry distinction)
• Hyphenation: va?ri?a?tion

Noun

variation (usually uncountable, plural variations)

1. The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing.
2. A related but distinct thing.
3. (nautical) The angular difference at the vessel between the direction of true north and magnetic north.

   Synonym: magnetic declination

4. (board games) A line of play that differs from the original.
5. (music) A technique where material is repeated with alterations to the melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, texture, counterpoint or orchestration; but with some invariant characteristic, e.g. a ground bass.
6. (genetics) The modification of a hereditary trait.
7. (astronomy) Deviation from the mean orbit of a heavenly body.

Derived terms

• magnetic variation
• theme and variations

Related terms

• vary
• variant

Translations

References

• US FM 55-501 MARINE CREWMAN’S HANDBOOK; 1 December 1999
• variation in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• variation in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin vari?ti?. See also véraison.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /va.?ja.sj??/

Noun

variation f (plural variations)

1. variation

Derived terms

• boîte de vitesses à variation continue

Related terms

• varier

Further reading

• “variation” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Swedish

Etymology

From French variation, attested from 1656.

Noun

variation c

1. variation

Declension

Related terms

• variant
• variera

References