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Switch vs Pointsman - What's the difference?

switch | pointsman |

As nouns the difference between switch and pointsman

is that switch is a device to turn electric current on]] and [[turn off|off or direct its flow while pointsman is a man in charge of railroad points or switches.

As a verb switch

is to exchange.

As an adjective switch

is (snowboarding) riding with their opposite foot forward from their natural position bbc sport, [http://wwwbbccouk/sport/0/winter-olympics/26141070 "sochi 2014: a jargon-busting guide to the halfpipe"], 11 february 2014 .

switch

English

Noun

(es)
  • A device to turn electric current on]] and [[turn off, off or direct its flow.
  • A change.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 19 , author=Jonathan Stevenson , title=Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Wenger sent on Cesc Fabregas and Van Persie to try to finish Leeds off and with 14 minutes left the switch paid off as the Spaniard sent Bendtner away down the right and his wonderful curling cross was headed in by Van Persie at the far post. }}
  • (rail transport, US) A movable section of railroad track which allows the train to be directed down one of two destination tracks; point.
  • 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. ."
  • (computer science) A command line notation allowing specification of optional behavior.
    • Use the /b switch to specify black-and-white printing.
  • (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 )
  • (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.
  • (telecommunication) 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.
  • (BDSM) One who is willing to take either a sadistic or a masochistic role.
  • * 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.
  • 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

    Derived terms

    * asleep at the switch * dipswitch * light switch * railway switch * switchback * switchblade * switchboard * switcheroo * switchout

    Verb

    (es)
  • To exchange.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838
    • , page=13 (Technology Quarterly), magazine=(The Economist) , title= Ideas coming down the track , passage=A “moving platform” scheme
  • To change (something) to the specified state using a switch.
  • To whip or hit with a switch.
  • * 1899 , (Joseph Conrad),
    • They were looking on the ground, absorbed in thought. The manager was switching his leg with a slender twig: his sagacious relative lifted his head.
  • To change places, tasks, etc.
  • (slang) To get angry suddenly; to quickly or unreasonably become enraged.
  • To swing or whisk.
    • to switch a cane
  • To be swung or whisked.
    • The angry cat's tail switched back and forth.
  • To trim.
    • to switch a hedge
    (Halliwell)
  • 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
  • (ecclesiastical) To shift to another circuit.

    • Adjective

    (-)
  • (snowboarding) riding with their opposite foot forward from their natural position. BBC Sport, "Sochi 2014: A jargon-busting guide to the halfpipe", 11 February 2014

    • Coordinate terms

    (snowboarding) * goofy * regular

    See also

    * switch off * switch on

    References

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    pointsman

    English

    Noun

    (pointsmen)
  • A man in charge of railroad points or switches.