toggle

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English[edit]

A toggle (sense 1)
A toggle (sense 2)

Etymology[edit]

Of uncertain origin. Possible alteration of tug (to pull) +‎ -le

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈtɒɡ.əl/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈtɑ.ɡəl/
  • (file)
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɒɡəl

Noun[edit]

toggle (plural toggles)

  1. (nautical) A wooden or metal pin, short rod, crosspiece or similar, fixed transversely in the eye of a rope or chain to be secured to any other loop, ring, or bight, e.g. a sea painter to a lifeboat.
  2. (in particular, fashion) A rod-shaped button bound with slack to the fabric.
  3. A toggle switch.
  4. An appliance for transmitting force at right angles to its direction.
  5. A horizontal piece of wood that is placed on a door, flat, or other wooden structure, but is not on one of the edges of the structure.
  6. A fastener that has flaps that align vertically to penetrate a surface and then spread out to secure the fastener in position, e.g. a molly bolt.
    • 1991, Kalton C. Lahue, Cheryl Smith, Interior Lighting, page 19:
      Hooks come with screws for use in plaster or wood and toggles for use in wallboard.
  7. (skydiving) A loop of webbing or a dowel affixed to the end of the steering/brake lines of a parachute providing the pilot with a means of control.

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Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

toggle (third-person singular simple present toggles, present participle toggling, simple past and past participle toggled)

  1. To alternate between two positions using a single switch or lever.
    Clicking a button will alternately toggle its light on OR off.
  2. To switch between alternate states.
    toggle to lower/upper case
    You can quickly toggle the case of selected text by pressing Alt+C.
    • 2022 October 22, Maureen Dowd, “Ralph Fiennes, Master of Monsters”, in The New York Times[1]:
      He’s that rare creature who’s equally powerful in the classics and popular fare, who’s dedicated to toggling between stage and screen. He is both prolific and enigmatic, disappearing into a dazzling range of characters.
  3. (nautical, transitive) To fix like a toggle iron; to fix fast.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

References[edit]

Anagrams[edit]