The difference between Swap and Switch

When used as nouns, swap means an exchange of two comparable things, whereas switch means a device to turn electric current on and off or direct its flow.

When used as verbs, swap means to exchange or give (something) in an exchange (for something else), whereas switch means to exchange.


Switch is also adjective with the meaning: pertaining to riding with the front and back feet swapped round compared to one's normal position.

check bellow for the other definitions of Swap and Switch

  1. Swap as a verb (transitive):

    To exchange or give (something) in an exchange (for something else).

    Examples:

    "synonyms exchange switch trade"

  2. Swap as a verb (transitive, obsolete):

    To hit, to strike.

  3. Swap as a verb (transitive, obsolete):

    To beat the air, or ply the wings, with a sweeping motion or noise; to flap.

  4. Swap as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):

    To descend or fall; to rush hastily or violently.

  1. Swap as a noun:

    An exchange of two comparable things.

    Examples:

    "quote-book lang=1819 w Sir Walter Scott w Tales of My Landlord section=The Bride of Lammermoor passage=I e’en changed it, as occasion served, with the skippers o’ Dutch luggers and French vessels, for gin and brandy... a gude swap too, between what cheereth the soul of man and that which dingeth it clean out of his body"

  2. Swap as a noun (finance):

    A financial derivative in which two parties agree to exchange one stream of cashflow against another stream.

  3. Swap as a noun (computing, informal, uncountable):

    Space available in a swap file for use as auxiliary memory.

    Examples:

    "How much swap do you need?"

  1. Swap as a noun (obsolete, UK, dialect):

    A blow; a stroke.

  1. Switch as a noun:

    A device to turn electric current on and off or direct its flow.

  2. Switch as a noun:

    A change.

  3. Switch as a noun (rail transport, US):

    A movable section of railroad track which allows the train to be directed down one of two destination tracks; point.

  4. Switch as a noun:

    A slender woody plant stem used as a whip; a thin, flexible rod, associated with corporal punishment in the United States.

  5. Switch as a noun (computer science):

    A command line notation allowing specification of optional behavior.

    Examples:

    "Use the /b switch to specify black-and-white printing."

  6. Switch as a noun (computing, programming):

    A programming construct that takes different actions depending on the value of an expression.

  7. Switch as a noun (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.

  8. Switch as a noun (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.

  9. Switch as a noun (BDSM):

    One who is willing to take either a submissive or a dominant role in a sexual relationship.

  10. Switch as a noun:

    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.

  1. Switch as a verb (transitive):

    To exchange.

    Examples:

    "I want to switch this red dress for a green one."

  2. Switch as a verb (transitive):

    To change (something) to the specified state using a switch.

    Examples:

    "'Switch the light on."

  3. Switch as a verb (transitive):

    To whip or hit with a switch.

  4. Switch as a verb (intransitive):

    To change places, tasks, etc.

    Examples:

    "I want to switch to a different seat."

  5. Switch as a verb (slang, intransitive):

    To get angry suddenly; to quickly or unreasonably become enraged.

  6. Switch as a verb:

    To swing or whisk.

    Examples:

    "to switch a cane"

  7. Switch as a verb:

    To be swung or whisked.

    Examples:

    "The angry cat's tail switched back and forth."

  8. Switch as a verb:

    To trim.

    Examples:

    "to switch a hedge"

    "rfquotek Halliwell"

  9. Switch as a verb:

    To turn from one railway track to another; to transfer by a switch; generally with off, from, etc.

    Examples:

    "to switch off a train; to switch a car from one track to another"

  10. Switch as a verb (ecclesiastical):

    To shift to another circuit.

  1. Switch as an adjective (snowboarding):

    Pertaining to riding with the front and back feet swapped round compared to one's normal position.

  2. Switch as an adjective (freestyle, _, skiing):

    Pertaining to skiing backwards.