| switch [swich] CIVIL ENGINEERING 1. A device for enabling a railway car to pass from one track to another. 2. The junction of two tracks. COMPUTER SCIENCE 1. A hardware or programmed device for indicating that one of several alternative states or conditions have been chosen, or to interchange or exchange two data items. 2. A symbol used to indicate a branch point, or a set of instructions to condition a branch. ELECTRICITY A manual or mechanically actuated device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electric circuit. Also known as electric switch. Symbolized SW. |