commutator vs flip-flop

commutator

noun
  • An electrical switch, in a generator or motor, that periodically reverses the direction of an electric current. 

  • A binary map in a given group G, given by [g, h] = ghg⁻¹h⁻¹, where g and h are elements of G, which yields the group's identity if and only if the group operation commutes for g and h. 

  • A binary map in a given ring R, given by [a, b] = ab − ba, where a and b are elements of R, which yields the ring's zero element if and only if the multiplication operation commutes for a and b. 

flip-flop

noun
  • A bistable; an electronic switching circuit that has either two stable states (switching between them in response to a trigger) or a stable and an unstable state (switching from one to the other and back again in response to a trigger), and which is thereby capable of serving as one bit of memory. 

  • A return trip. 

  • A sandal consisting of a rubber sole fastened to the foot by a rubber thong fitting between the toes and around the sides of the foot. 

  • An instance of flip-flopping, of repeatedly changing one's stated opinion about a matter. 

  • A change of places; an inversion or swap. 

  • The sound of a regular footfall. 

  • A somersault. 

verb
  • To alternate back and forth between directly opposite opinions, ideas, or decisions. 

How often have the words commutator and flip-flop occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )