Main Difference
The main difference between Whip and Switch is that the Whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people and Switch is a electrical component that can break an electrical circuit.
Whip
A whip is a tool which was traditionally designed to strike animals or people to aid guidance or exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities, whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid or visual directional cue in equestrianism. Whips are generally of two types, either a firm stick designed for direct contact, or a flexible whip that requires a specialized swing to be effective, but has a longer reach and greater force, but may have less precision. There are also whips which combine both a firm stick (the stock or handle) and a flexible line (the lash or thong), such as hunting whips.
The majority of whips are designed for use on animals, although whips such as the “cat o’ nine tails” and knout were specifically developed for flagellation as a means of inflicting corporal punishment or torture on human targets. Certain religious practices and BDSM activities involve the self-use of whips or the use of whips between consenting partners. Misuse on animals may be considered animal cruelty, and misuse on humans may be viewed as assault.
Switch
In electrical engineering, a switch is an electrical component that can “make” or “break” an electrical circuit, interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to another.
The mechanism of a switch removes or restores the conducting path in a circuit when it is operated. It may be operated manually, for example, a light switch or a keyboard button, may be operated by a moving object such as a door, or may be operated by some sensing element for pressure, temperature or flow. A switch will have one or more sets of contacts, which may operate simultaneously, sequentially, or alternately. Switches in high-powered circuits must operate rapidly to prevent destructive arcing, and may include special features to assist in rapidly interrupting a heavy current. Multiple forms of actuators are used for operation by hand or to sense position, level, temperature or flow. Special types are used, for example, for control of machinery, to reverse electric motors, or to sense liquid level. Many specialized forms exist. A common use is control of lighting, where multiple switches may be wired into one circuit to allow convenient control of light fixtures.
By analogy with the devices that select one or more possible paths for electric currents, devices that route information in a computer network are also called “switches” – these are usually more complicated than simple electromechanical toggles or pushbutton devices, and operate without direct human interaction.
Whip (noun)
A lash; a pliant, flexible instrument, such as a rod (commonly of cane or rattan) or a plaited or braided rope or thong (commonly of leather) used to create a sharp “crack” sound for directing or herding animals.
“I had to use the whip to get the sheep’s attention.”
Whip (noun)
A whipper-in.
Whip (noun)
A member of a policies in votes.
“I was going to vote against the bill, but the party whip came to see me and made it clear I needed to vote for it.”
Whip (noun)
A document distributed weekly to MPs by party whips informing them of upcoming votes in parliament.
Whip (noun)
Whipped cream.
“Did you want to add some whip to your coffee, ma’am?”
Whip (noun)
A purchase in which one block is used to gain a 2:1 mechanical advantage.
Whip (noun)
A mode of personal motorized transportation; an automobile, all makes and models including motorcycles, excluding public transportation.
“Come on, let’s take my whip so we can get there in time.”
Whip (noun)
A move in which one player transfers momentum to another.
Whip (noun)
A whipping motion; a thrashing about.
“I was startled by the whip of the rope when it finally snapped.”
Whip (noun)
The quality of being whiplike or flexible; suppleness, as of the shaft of a golf club.
Whip (noun)
Any of various pieces that operate with a quick vibratory motion
Whip (noun)
The same instrument used to strike a person or animal for corporal punishment or torture.
“Once he ran out of appeals, he knew he would soon feel the sting of the whip.”
Whip (noun)
A spring in certain electrical devices for making a circuit
Whip (verb)
To hit with a whip.
“The rider whipped the horse.”
Whip (verb)
To hit with any flexible object.
“I whipped her with a newspaper.”
Whip (verb)
To defeat, as in a contest or game.
Whip (verb)
To mix in a rapid aerating fashion, especially food.
“to whip eggs or cream”
Whip (verb)
To urge into action.
“He whipped the department into shape.”
Whip (verb)
To bind the end of a rope with twine or other small stuff to prevent its unlaying: fraying or unravelling.
Whip (verb)
To hoist or purchase by means of a whip.
Whip (verb)
To sew lightly; specifically, to form (a fabric) into gathers by loosely overcasting the rolled edge and drawing up the thread.
“to whip a ruffle”
Whip (verb)
To throw or kick an object at a high velocity.
Whip (verb)
To fish a body of water especially by making repeated casts.
Whip (verb)
To snap back and forth like a whip.
Whip (verb)
To move very fast.
Whip (verb)
To move (something) very fast; often with up, out, etc.
Whip (verb)
To transfer momentum from one skater to another.
Whip (verb)
To lash with sarcasm, abuse, etc.
Whip (verb)
To thrash; to beat out, as grain, by striking.
“to whip wheat”
Switch (noun)
A on and off or direct its flow.
Switch (noun)
A change.
Switch (noun)
A movable section of railroad track which allows the train to be directed down one of two destination tracks; point.
Switch (noun)
A slender woody plant stem used as a whip; a thin, flexible rod, associated with corporal punishment in the United States.
Switch (noun)
A command line notation allowing specification of optional behavior.
“Use the /b switch to specify black-and-white printing.”
Switch (noun)
A programming construct that takes different actions depending on the value of an expression.
Switch (noun)
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.
Switch (noun)
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.
Switch (noun)
One who is willing to take either a submissive or a dominant role in a sexual relationship.
Switch (verb)
To exchange.
“I want to switch this red dress for a green one.”
Switch (verb)
To change (something) to the specified state using a switch.
“Switch the light on.”
Switch (verb)
To whip or hit with a switch.
Switch (verb)
To change places, tasks, etc.
“I want to switch to a different seat.”
Switch (verb)
To get angry suddenly; to quickly or unreasonably become enraged.
Switch (verb)
To swing or whisk.
“to switch a cane”
Switch (verb)
To be swung or whisked.
“The angry cat’s tail switched back and forth.”
Switch (verb)
To trim.
“to switch a hedge”
Switch (verb)
To turn from one railway track to another; to transfer by a switch; generally with off, from, etc.
“to switch off a train; to switch a car from one track to another”
Switch (verb)
To shift to another circuit.
Switch (adjective)
Pertaining to riding with the front and back feet swapped round compared to one’s normal position.
Switch (adjective)
Pertaining to skiing backwards.
Switch (noun)
a device for making and breaking the connection in an electric circuit
“the guard hit a switch and the gate swung open”
Switch (noun)
a program variable which activates or deactivates a certain function of a program.
Switch (noun)
a device which forwards data packets to an appropriate part of the network.
Switch (noun)
an act of changing to or adopting one thing in place of another
“his friends were surprised at his switch from newspaper owner to farmer”
Switch (noun)
a slender, flexible shoot cut from a tree.
Switch (noun)
a set of points on a railway track.
Switch (noun)
a tress of false or detached hair tied at one end, used in hairdressing to supplement natural hair.
Switch (verb)
change the position, direction, or focus of
“the company switched the boats to other routes”
Switch (verb)
adopt (something different) in place of something else; change
“she worked as a librarian and then switched to journalism”
“she’s managed to switch careers”
Switch (verb)
substitute (two items) for each other; exchange
“after ten minutes, listener and speaker switch roles”
Switch (verb)
beat or flick with or as if with a switch.