switchboard

/ˈswɪtʃˌbɔrd/
noun
  1. A device used to connect telephone calls, especially in a large office or building, operated by a person or automatically.
    • Before smartphones, every office had a switchboard to handle incoming and outgoing calls.
    • The old switchboard in the museum still has its original plugs and cords.
    • The receptionist sat at the switchboard and connected callers to the right departments.
  2. A central system or panel that controls or directs multiple connections, such as for electricity or data.
    • Data from all the sensors flows into a central switchboard for processing.
    • The electrician checked the main switchboard to see which circuit had tripped.
    • The building's switchboard distributes power to every floor.
What does "switchboard" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean