Standard Lemma guide

switchboard

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈswɪt͡ʃˌbɔɹd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: S W IH1 CH B AO2 R D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The electronic panel that is used to direct telephone calls to the desired recipient.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: communications, electrical-engineering, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, telecommunications

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A large piece of power-distribution equipment that directs electricity to multiple loads.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, electrical, electrical-engineering, electricity, electromagnetism, energy, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To transmit or relay through, as if through, a switchboard.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

telephone central where circuits are completed with patchcords

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: patchboard, plugboard

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: central, telephone exchange, exchange

History

Etymology

From switch + board.

Across languages

Translations

44 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: камута́тар (kamutátar) — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Chinese Mandarin: 總機 /总机 (zǒngjī) — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Chinese Mandarin: 交換機 /交换机 (jiāohuànjī) — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Danish: omstillingsbord — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Danish: omstillingsanlæg — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Finnish: puhelinvaihde — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • French: standard — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • French: standard téléphonique — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • German: Klappenschrank — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Greek: τηλεφωνικό κέντρο (tilefonikó kéntro) — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Hungarian: kapcsolótábla — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Irish: lasc-chlár — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Italian: centralino — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Japanese: 交換台 (kōkandai) — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Japanese: 交換器 (kōkanki) — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Korean: 교환대 (gyohwandae) — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Polish: centrala — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Portuguese: mesa — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Romanian: tablou de distribuție — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Russian: коммута́тор (kommutátor) — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Spanish: cuadro de distribución — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Spanish: tablero — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Swedish: telefonväxel — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Swedish: växel — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Thai: ชุมสาย (chum-sǎai) — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Ukrainian: комута́тор (komutátor) — electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Chinese Mandarin: 配電盤 /配电盘 (pèidiànpán) — electronic device
  • Czech: rozvaděč — electronic device
  • Finnish: kytkintaulu — electronic device
  • Finnish: sähkökeskus — electronic device
  • German: Schaltschrank — electronic device
  • Greek: ηλεκτρικός πίνακας (ilektrikós pínakas) — electronic device
  • Hungarian: kapcsolótábla — electronic device
  • Japanese: 配電盤 (haidenban) — electronic device
  • Korean: 배전반 (baejeonban) — electronic device
  • Polish: tablica rozdzielcza — electronic device
  • Polish: pulpit kontrolny — electronic device
  • Portuguese: mesa — electronic device
  • Romanian: dispozitiv de comutare — electronic device
  • Russian: коммута́тор (kommutátor) — electronic device
  • Russian: распредели́тельный щит (raspredelítelʹnyj ščit) — electronic device
  • Spanish: cuadro de distribución — electronic device
  • Swedish: elcentral — electronic device
  • Swedish: gruppcentral — electronic device