switchboard

S1W4I1T1C3H4B3O1A1R1D2
US/ˈswɪt͡ʃˌbɔɹd/

noun

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

Similar
patchboardplugboard
CommonScrabble 22
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Meanings

nounswitchboard (plural switchboards)

plural switchboards

  1. communicationsThe electronic panel that is used to direct telephone calls to the desired recipient.
  2. businessA large piece of power-distribution equipment that directs electricity to multiple loads.
verbswitchboard (third-person singular simple present switchboards, present participle switchboarding, simple past and past participle switchboarded)

present singular third person switchboards · participle present switchboarding · participle past switchboarded · past switchboarded

  1. transitiveTo transmit or relay through, as if through, a switchboard.

Synonyms & antonyms

nountelephone central where circuits are completed with patchcords

Similar
patchboardplugboard
Broader
centraltelephone exchangeexchange
Also see
patchboardplugboard

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From switch + board.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 總機 /总机, 交換機 /交换机
  • 總機 /总机 (zǒngjī)electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • 交換機 /交换机 (jiāohuànjī)electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • 配電盤 /配电盘 (pèidiànpán)electronic device
Czech rozvaděč
  • rozvaděčelectronic device
Danish omstillingsbord, omstillingsanlæg
  • omstillingsbordelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • omstillingsanlægelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
Finnish puhelinvaihde, kytkintaulu
  • puhelinvaihdeelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • kytkintauluelectronic device
  • sähkökeskuselectronic device
French standard, standard téléphonique
  • standardelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • standard téléphoniqueelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
German Klappenschrank, Schaltschrank
  • Klappenschrankelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • Schaltschrankelectronic device
Greek τηλεφωνικό κέντρο, ηλεκτρικός πίνακας
  • τηλεφωνικό κέντρο (tilefonikó kéntro)electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • ηλεκτρικός πίνακας (ilektrikós pínakas)electronic device
Hungarian kapcsolótábla, kapcsolótábla
  • kapcsolótáblaelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • kapcsolótáblaelectronic device
Irish lasc-chlár
  • lasc-chlárelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
Italian centralino
  • centralinoelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
Japanese 交換台, 交換器
  • 交換台 (kōkandai)electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • 交換器 (kōkanki)electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • 配電盤 (haidenban)electronic device
Korean 교환대, 배전반
  • 교환대 (gyohwandae)electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • 배전반 (baejeonban)electronic device
Polish centrala, tablica rozdzielcza
  • centralaelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • tablica rozdzielczaelectronic device
  • pulpit kontrolnyelectronic device
Portuguese mesa, mesa
  • mesaelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • mesaelectronic device
Romanian tablou de distribuție, dispozitiv de comutare
  • tablou de distribuțieelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • dispozitiv de comutareelectronic device
Russian коммута́тор, коммута́тор
  • коммута́тор (kommutátor)electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • коммута́тор (kommutátor)electronic device
  • распредели́тельный щит (raspredelítelʹnyj ščit)electronic device
Spanish cuadro de distribución, tablero
  • cuadro de distribuciónelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • tableroelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • cuadro de distribuciónelectronic device
Swedish telefonväxel, växel
  • telefonväxelelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • växelelectronic panel used to direct telephone calls
  • elcentralelectronic device
  • gruppcentralelectronic device
Thai ชุมสาย
  • ชุมสาย (chum-sǎai)electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
Ukrainian комута́тор
  • комута́тор (komutátor)electronic panel used to direct telephone calls
Cite this entry
APA

switchboard. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/switchboard

MLA

“switchboard.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/switchboard. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “switchboard,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/switchboard.

Source: switchboard on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.