Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Toggle switch \Tog"gle switch`\, n.
(Elec.) an electrical switch operated by pushing a lever through a small angle of deflection. The lever has a spring which returns it to its original position after the pressure applied by the operator is released.
(Computer programming) A mechanism for acquiring input from an operator, such that taking some action (such as pressing a function key on a keyboard) will cause a program variable to take a new value. The values are usually changed in cyclic fashion, so that a certain number of activations of the toggle returns the variable to its initial value. When there are two values to the variable, each activation of the toggle causes the variable to assume the alternate value.
Wiktionary
n. A switch actuated by moving a small lever; usually an on/off switch with two positions.
WordNet
n. a hinged switch that can assume either of two positions [syn: toggle, on-off switch, on/off switch]
Usage examples of "toggle switch".
He had even found that blue toggle switch which had closed the Plattnerite circuit.
She looked away, and as if backing down from his stare had thrown her into a rage, she slammed her hand onto the red toggle switch, pushing it all the way forward.
Ingrid reached again over her head and had the small black box in her hand, with the red toggle switch in the center.
His hand slapped at the board, chopping the toggle switch back to its original position.
The JOOD nodded and reached for the toggle switch to the bitch box.
He rocked the box with the toggle switch on his lap, a miserable madonna.
There was a bench, lashed up from the wood of the dipterocarps, and a small control panel-a crude thing of switches and buttons-that featured the blue toggle switch which Nebogipfel had salvaged from our first Time-Car.