toggle

[ tog-uhl ]

noun

1. a pin, bolt, or rod placed transversely through a chain, an eye or loop in a rope, etc., as to bind it temporarily to another chain or rope similarly treated.
2. a toggle joint, or a device having one.
3. an ornamental, rod-shaped button for inserting into a large buttonhole, loop, or frog, used especially on sports clothes.
4. Theater.
   1. Also called toggle rail. a wooden batten across the width of a flat, for strengthening the frame.
   2. Also called toggle iron. a metal device for fastening a toggle rail to a frame.

verb (used with object)

, tog·gled, tog·gling.

1. to furnish with a toggle.
2. to bind or fasten with a toggle.
3. Informal. to turn, twist, or manipulate a toggle switch; dial or turn the switch of (an appliance):

   He toggled the TV between the baseball game and the news.

toggle

/ ˈtɒɡəl /

noun

1. a wooden peg or metal rod fixed crosswise through an eye at the end of a rope, chain, or cable, for fastening temporarily by insertion through an eye in another rope, chain, etc
2. a wooden or plastic bar-shaped button inserted through a loop for fastening
3. a pin inserted into a nautical knot to keep it secure
4. machinery a toggle joint or a device having such a joint

verb

1. tr to supply or fasten with a toggle or toggles
2. computing intr,often foll bybetween to switch to a different option, view, application, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈtoggler, noun

Other Words From

• toggler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of toggle¹

First recorded in 1760–70; perhaps variant of tackle

Word History and Origins

Origin of toggle¹

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

It's technically true that Twitter toggled stories about Biden's laptop for 24 hours while determining if the story was real, but no one with functioning cognitive capacities mistakes that for a serious case of censorship.

From Salon

Access was restored on 3 October – but the parent then found that the same websites could still be viewed using a child’s login once the “safe-search” option was toggled off in settings.

From BBC

It was an ode to his younger self, who was on a journey toward authenticity, toggling between ideas of purity and performance.

From Los Angeles Times

The app also has drop-down menus and toggles, to let a user specify tools they have in their kitchen, or if they're in a hurry or not a very good cook.

From BBC

On TV, as in life, it’s a full-contact sport that requires subterfuge and constant toggling between public and private identities.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dial
• knob
• switch