Englishfor English speakers
switch
Verb
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If you switch something, you change it to something else.
He switched his book with mine.
We switched to a cheaper brand of coffee.
When they didn't seem to understand, he switched to French.
Jump ten times, switch legs and repeat.
I just switched jobs, and at my new job I don't have insurance.
When his team was losing, he switched sides.
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If you switch a light or machine on, you change something so that it has power and can work.
She sat up in bed and switched on the light.
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If you switch a light or machine off, you change something so that it doesn't have power and can't work.
I switched off the computer and went to bed.
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If you switch over to something, you change to it, often with no plan to change back to the first thing.
We used to watch CNN, but we've switched over to BBC World News.
It was difficult when I switched over from writing to acting.
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If you switch gears, you change the way you think or act to match a particular situation.
When I come home from work, it takes me a while to switch gears.
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If you switch with somebody, you do something that they usually do and they do the thing that you usually do.
Sibyl couldn't work on Tuesday, so I switched with her.
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If you switch a machine to a particular setting or function, you set it to work that way.
She switched the TV to another channel.
She switched the plane to automatic pilot.
switch
Noun
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A switch is what you use to turn lights or other machines and equipment on and off.
The light switch is on the wall behind the door.
Where's the on/off switch on this printer?
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A switch is a change from one thing to another.
It's often difficult for older people to make the switch to living alone.
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A switch is a place on the track where trains can chose between two tracks.
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A switch is a networking device that connects networks together by sending data (packets) only to the devices that need them.
Switches are more efficient than hubs because they understand which device needs the data that other devices send them.
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A switch is a thin stick.
board
Noun
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A board is a group of people who govern something.
The school board has chosen new textbooks for all the schools.
Bret Stephens is a member of the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal.
School boards are supposed to make sure students get the best education possible.
Copies also should be sent to the chairman of the licensing board.
I have a meeting coming up with the Community Advisory Board.
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A board is a long piece of wood.
The outside of the house was made of wooden boards.
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A board is a flat surface.
The knives should be used on a wooden cutting board only.
He pinned his poster in the center of the bulletin board.
There were two diving boards at the deep end of the pool.
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If something is true across the board, it is true in all cases.
He was number one across the board. Nobody was better.
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If something is on the drawing board, it is being planned.
The designs for the car is still on the drawing board.
I think those students need to go back to the drawing board.
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A message board is a place for people to share ideas publicly, often over the internet.
These days churches are using e-mail, message boards, and blogs to communicate.
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A circuit board is flat, usually green, piece of electronic equipment.
He opened the computer so we could get a look at the circuit board.
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A sounding board is a person or group of people who will listen to your ideas and tell you if they're good or not.
I often discuss company matters with him, and use him as a sounding board.
board
Verb
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If you board a boat, plane, train, or other vehicle, you get onto it.
Sarah boarded the plane.
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If a boat, plane, train, or other vehicle is boarding, passengers are allowed to get on it.
Flight AC002 is now boarding at gate two.
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If you board in a school or in someone's house, you pay to live there.
In Paris, I boarded with a nice family in Le Alle.
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If you board a building or a business up, you close it for a long time.
Number 1 Strand Street was finally cleaned out, boarded up, and offered for sale by the city.