1. The act of changing one thing or position for another
   "his switching on abortion cost him the election";
   - switch, shift

1. Change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
   "We need to switch over to the new system by next week";
   - switch over, exchange
    
2. Make a shift in or exchange of
   "First Joe led; then we switched";
   - change over, shift
    
3. Exchange or give (something) in exchange for
   "They switched phone numbers at the end of the party";
   - trade, swap, swop
    
4. Lay aside, abandon, or leave for another
   "switch to a different brand of beer"; "She switched psychiatrists";
   - shift, change
    
5. Cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation
   "switch on the light";
   - throw, flip
    
6. Flog with or as if with a flexible rod
   "The teacher switched the misbehaving student in the old-fashioned school"

Derived forms: switchings

Type of: abandon, alter, change, engage, exchange, flog, interchange, lash, lather, lock, mesh, modify, operate, reverse, slash, strap, trounce, turn, welt, whale [N. Amer, informal], whip

Encyclopedia: Switching