switchboard

switchboard
switchboard switch"board` n. 1. an elctrical apparatus consisting predominantly of a panel on which are switches or other means of completing electrical circuits; -- used especially for the devices used in telephone exchanges. See sense 2. [PJC]

2. (Telephone) An apparatus containing switches by means of which a connection may be made from an incoming telephone line to any one of numerous outgoing lines. The switches may be either mechanical or electronic, and the switching action may be automatic, controlled by signals in the incoming call, or manual, controlled by a switchboard operator. In older style manual switchboards, the circuits were connected by the use of patchcords, inserted into plugs.

Syn: patchboard, plugboard, telephone exchange. [PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • switchboard — switch‧board [ˈswɪtʆbɔːd ǁ bɔːrd] noun [countable] a system used to connect telephone calls in an office building, hotel etc: • Calls must pass through the switchboard with the minimum delay. • Contact the switchboard operator to arrange an early …   Financial and business terms

  • switchboard — 1873, from SWITCH (Cf. switch) (n.) + BOARD (Cf. board) (n.1) …   Etymology dictionary

  • switchboard — ► NOUN 1) an installation for the manual control of telephone connections. 2) an apparatus for varying connections between electric circuits …   English terms dictionary

  • switchboard — ☆ switchboard [swichbôrd΄ ] n. a board or panel equipped with apparatus for controlling the operation of a system of electric circuits, as in a telephone exchange …   English World dictionary

  • switchboard — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ telephone VERB + SWITCHBOARD ▪ call, ring (BrE) ▪ flood, jam ▪ The switchboard was jammed with f …   Collocations dictionary

  • switchboard — n. at a switchboard (to work at a switchboard) * * * [ swɪtʃbɔːd] at a switchboard (to work at a switchboard) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • switchboard — noun (C) a central system used to connect telephone calls in an office building, hotel etc, or the people who operate the system: Hello switchboard? Can I have an outside line? | switchboard operators | jam the switchboard (=make too many calls… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • Switchboard — The term switchboard, when used by itself, may refer to:*Telephone switchboard *Electric switchboard *Printed circuit board *In computing, Switch board (framework) …   Wikipedia

  • switchboard — switch|board [ˈswıtʃbo:d US bo:rd] n a system used to connect telephone calls in an office building, hotel etc, or the people who operate the system ▪ switchboard operators ▪ Hundreds of callers jammed the switchboard trying to win the tickets… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • switchboard — [[t]swɪ̱tʃbɔː(r)d[/t]] switchboards N COUNT A switchboard is a place in a large office or business where all the telephone calls are connected. He asked to be connected to the central switchboard at London University... The switchboard operator… …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”