verb
cause to operate by flipping a switch (Freq. 5)
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switch on the light
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turn on the stereo
• Syn: ↑turn on
• Ant: ↑switch off
• Verb Frames:
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Somebody ——s something
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switch on
1. To turn on (an electrical device)
2. To assume (false emotion, insincere charm, etc) at will
• • •
Main Entry: ↑switch
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ˌswitch ˈon [intransitive/transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they switch on he/she/it switches on present participle switching on past tense switched on past participle switched on] phrasal verb
if you switch on something such as a light or a machine, or if it switches on, you make it start working
Don’t switch on the light.
The machine switches on automatically.
Thesaurus: to make a machine or piece of equipment workhyponym to work, or to start working of a piece of machinerysynonym
Main entry: switch
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switch on [phrasal verb]
switch (something) on or switch on (something) : to turn on (something) by turning or pushing a button or moving a switch, lever, etc.
I switched on the TV and watched the news.
• • •
Main Entry: ↑switch
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to turn a light, machine, etc. off/on by pressing a button or switch
•
Please switch the lights off as you leave.
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How do you switch this thing on?
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The electricity has been switched off.
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We only switched on halfway through the programme.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.