exchange

[ iks-cheynj ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·changed, ex·chang·ing.

1. to give up (something) for something else; part with for some equivalent; change for another.

   Synonyms: swap, trade, barter, commute, interchange

2. to replace (returned merchandise) with an equivalent or something else:

   Most stores will allow the purchaser to exchange goods.

3. to give and receive reciprocally; interchange:

   to exchange blows; to exchange gifts.

4. to part with in return for some equivalent; transfer for a recompense; barter:

   to exchange goods with foreign countries.

5. Chess. to capture (an enemy piece) in return for a capture by the opponent generally of pieces of equal value.

verb (used without object)

, ex·changed, ex·chang·ing.

1. to make an exchange; engage in bartering, replacing, or substituting one thing for another.
2. to pass or be taken in exchange or as an equivalent.

noun

1. the act, process, or an instance of exchanging:

   The contesting nations arranged for an exchange of prisoners; money in exchange for services.

   Synonyms: barter, commerce, business, traffic, trade, interchange

2. something that is given or received in exchange or substitution for something else:

   The car was a fair exchange.

3. a place for buying and selling commodities, securities, etc., typically open only to members.

   Synonyms: market

4. a central office or central station:

   a telephone exchange.

5. the method or system by which debits and credits in different places are settled without the actual transfer of money, by means of bills of exchange representing money values.
6. the discharge of obligations in different places by the transfer of credits.
7. the amount or percentage charged for exchanging money, collecting a draft, etc.
8. the reciprocal transfer of equivalent sums of money, as in the currencies of two different countries.
9. the giving or receiving of a sum of money in one place for a bill ordering the payment of an equivalent sum in another.
10. exchange rate.
11. the amount of the difference in value between two or more currencies, or between the values of the same currency at two or more places.
12. the checks, drafts, etc., exchanged at a clearinghouse.
13. Chess. a reciprocal capture of pieces of equivalent value by opponents in a single series of moves.

exchange

/ ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ /

verb

1. tr to give up, part with, or transfer (one thing) for an equivalent

   to exchange francs for dollars

   to exchange gifts

2. tr to give and receive (information, ideas, etc); interchange
3. tr to replace (one thing) with another, esp to replace unsatisfactory goods
4. to transfer or hand over (goods) in return for the equivalent value in kind rather than in money; barter; trade
5. tr chess to capture and surrender (pieces, usually of the same value) in a single sequence of moves

noun

1. the act or process of exchanging
2. 1. anything given or received as an equivalent, replacement, or substitute for something else
   2. ( as modifier )

      an exchange student

3. an argument or quarrel; altercation

   the two men had a bitter exchange

4. Also calledtelephone exchange a switching centre in which telephone lines are interconnected
5. 1. a place where securities or commodities are sold, bought, or traded, esp by brokers or merchants

      a stock exchange

      a corn exchange

   2. ( as modifier )

      an exchange broker

6. 1. the system by which commercial debts between parties in different places are settled by commercial documents, esp bills of exchange, instead of by direct payment of money
   2. the percentage or fee charged for accepting payment in this manner
7. a transfer or interchange of sums of money of equivalent value, as between different national currencies or different issues of the same currency
8. often plural the cheques, drafts, bills, etc, exchanged or settled between banks in a clearing house
9. chess the capture by both players of pieces of equal value, usually on consecutive moves
10. lose the exchange
    chess to lose a rook in return for a bishop or knight
11. win the exchange
    chess to win a rook in return for a bishop or knight
12. med another word for transfusion
13. physics a process in which a particle is transferred between two nucleons, such as the transfer of a meson between two nucleons

Derived Forms

• exˈchangeable, adjective
• exˈchangeably, adverb
• exˌchangeaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• ex·changer noun
• preex·change verb (used with object) preexchanged preexchanging
• reex·change verb reexchanged reexchanging
• unex·changed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exchange¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the verb) Middle English eschaungen, from Anglo-French eschaungier, from Vulgar Latin excambiāre (unrecorded); equivalent to ex- ¹ + change ); noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of exchange¹

C14: from Anglo-French eschaungier, from Vulgar Latin excambiāre (unattested), from Latin cambīre to barter

Idioms and Phrases

see in exchange .

Example Sentences

In an email exchange shown to BBC News last year, deep-sea specialist Rob McCallum told Rush that the sub should not be used for commercial deep dive operations and was placing passengers in a “dangerous dynamic”.

From BBC

In an email exchange with Rob McCallum, he said he didn’t need a piece of paper to show Titan was safe, and that his own protocols and the “informed consent” of passengers were enough.

From BBC

The president-elect has also vowed to fire Gary Gensler, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, on day one.

From BBC

America recognised Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara in exchange for Rabat signing the Abraham Accords and thereby recognising Israel.

From BBC

Ahead of a tell-all show at the Corn Exchange in Brighton, Stephens described his 20s as a “whirlwind” in which Rizzle Kicks had hits including Down With the Trumpets and Mama Do the Hump.

From BBC

Related Words

• swap