exchange Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another
  2. noun a mutual expression of views (especially an unpleasant one)
    • they had a bitter exchange
  3. noun the act of changing one thing for another thing
    interchange.
    • Adam was promised immortality in exchange for his disobedience
    • there was an interchange of prisoners
  4. noun the act of giving something in return for something received
    • deductible losses on sales or exchanges of property are allowable
  5. noun a workplace that serves as a telecommunications facility where lines from telephones can be connected together to permit communication
    central; telephone exchange.
  6. noun a workplace for buying and selling; open only to members
  7. noun (sports) an unbroken sequence of several successive strokes
    rally.
    • after a short rally Connors won the point
  8. noun reciprocal transfer of equivalent sums of money (especially the currencies of different countries)
    interchange.
    • he earns his living from the interchange of currency
  9. noun the act of putting one thing or person in the place of another: "he sent Smith in for Jones but the substitution came too late to help"
    commutation; substitution.
  10. noun (chess) gaining (or losing) a rook in return for a knight or bishop
    • black lost the exchange
  11. noun (chess) the capture by both players (usually on consecutive moves) of pieces of equal value
    • the endgame began after the exchange of queens
  12. verb give to, and receive from, one another
    interchange; change.
    • Would you change places with me?
    • We have been exchanging letters for a year
  13. verb exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category
    convert; commute; change.
    • Could you convert my dollars into pounds?
    • He changed his name
    • convert centimeters into inches
    • convert holdings into shares
  14. verb change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
    switch over; switch.
  15. verb hand over one and receive another, approximately equivalent
    • exchange prisoners
    • exchange employees between branches of the company
  16. verb put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items
    interchange; substitute; replace.
    • the con artist replaced the original with a fake Rembrandt
    • substitute regular milk with fat-free milk
    • synonyms can be interchanged without a changing the context's meaning
  17. verb exchange a penalty for a less severe one
    convert; commute.

WordNet

Ex*change" noun
Etymology
OE. eschange, eschaunge, OF. eschange, fr. eschangier, F. échanger, to exchange; pref. ex- out + F. changer. See Change, and cf. Excamb.
Definitions
  1. The act of giving or taking one thing in return for another which is regarded as an equivalent; as, an exchange of cattle for grain.
  2. The act of substituting one thing in the place of another; as, an exchange of grief for joy, or of a scepter for a sword, and the like; also, the act of giving and receiving reciprocally; as, an exchange of civilities or views.
  3. The thing given or received in return; esp., a publication exchanged for another. Shak.
  4. (Com.) The process of setting accounts or debts between parties residing at a distance from each other, without the intervention of money, by exchanging orders or drafts, called bills of exchange. These may be drawn in one country and payable in another, in which case they are called foreign bills; or they may be drawn and made payable in the same country, in which case they are called inland bills. The term bill of exchange is often abbreviated into exchange; as, to buy or sell exchange. ✍ A in London is creditor to B in New York, and C in London owes D in New York a like sum. A in London draws a bill of exchange on B in New York; C in London purchases the bill, by which A receives his debt due from B in New York. C transmits the bill to D in New York, who receives the amount from B.
  5. (Law) A mutual grant of equal interests, the one in consideration of the other. Estates exchanged must be equal in quantity, as fee simple for fee simple. Blackstone.
  6. The place where the merchants, brokers, and bankers of a city meet at certain hours, to transact business. In this sense often contracted to 'Change. Syn. -- Barter; dealing; trade; traffic; interchange.
Ex*change" transitive verb
Etymology
Cf.OF. eschangier, F. échanger. See Exchange, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Exchanged ;present participle & verbal noun Exchanging
Definitions
  1. To part with give, or transfer to another in consideration of something received as an equivalent; -- usually followed by for before the thing received.
    Exchange his sheep for shells, or wool for a sparking pebble or a diamond. Locke.
  2. To part with for a substitute; to lay aside, quit, or resign (something being received in place of the thing with); as, to exchange a palace for cell.
    And death for life exchanged foolishly. Spenser.
    To shift his being Is to exchange one misery with another. Shak.
  3. To give and receive reciprocally, as things of the same kind; to barter; to swap; as, to exchange horses with a neighbor; to exchange houses or hats.
    Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Shak.
    Syn. -- To barter; change; commute; interchange; bargain; truck; swap; traffic.
Ex*change" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be changed or received in exchange for; to pass in exchange; as, dollar exchanges for ten dimes.

Webster 1913