dictionary definitions for "exchange"


From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:

  exchange
      n 1: chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes
           places with another
      2: a mutual expression of views (especially an unpleasant one);
         "they had a bitter exchange"
      3: the act of changing one thing for another thing; "Adam was
         promised immortality in exchange for his disobedience";
         "there was an exchange of prisoners"
      4: the act of giving something in return for something
         received; "deductible losses on sales or exchanges of
         property are allowable"
      5: a workplace that serves as a telecommunications facility
         where lines from telephones can be connected together to
         permit communication [syn: central, {telephone
         exchange}]
      6: a workplace for buying and selling; open only to members
      7: (sports) an unbroken sequence of several successive strokes;
         "after a short rally Connors won the point" [syn: rally]
         
      8: reciprocal transfer of equivalent sums of money especially
         the currencies of different countries; "he earns his
         living from the interchange of currency" [syn:
         interchange]
      9: 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" [syn: substitution,
         commutation]
      10: (chess) gaining (or losing) a rook in return for a knight or
          bishop; "black lost the exchange"
      11: (chess) the capture by both players (usually on consecutive
          moves) of pieces of equal value; "the endgame began after
          the exchange of queens"
      v 1: give to, and receive from, one another; "Would you change
           places with me?"; "We have been exchanging letters for a
           year" [syn: change, interchange]
      2: exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind
         or category; "Could you convert my dollars into pounds?";
         "He changed his name"; "convert centimeters into inches";
         "convert holdings into shares" [syn: change, commute,
         convert]
      3: change over, change around, or switch over [syn: {switch
         over}, switch]
      4: hand over one and receive another, approximately equivalent;
         "exchange prisoners";  "exchange employees between
         branches of the company"
      5: exchange a penalty for a less severe one [syn: commute,
         convert]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  exchange \ex*change"\ ([e^]ks*ch[=a]nj"), n. [OE. eschange,
     eschaunge, OF. eschange, fr. eschangier, F. ['e]changer, to
     exchange; pref. ex- out + F. changer. See Change, and cf.
     Excamb.]
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The thing given or received in return; esp., a publication
        exchanged for another. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: 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.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. The place where the merchants, brokers, and bankers of a
        city meet at certain hours, to transact business; also,
        the institution which sets regulations and maintains the
        physical facilities of such a place; as, the New York
        Stock Exchange; a commodity exchange. In this sense the
        word was at one time often contracted to 'change
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     Arbitration of exchange. See under Arbitration.
  
     Bill of exchange. See under Bill.
  
     Exchange broker. See under Broker.
  
     Par of exchange, the established value of the coin or
        standard of value of one country when expressed in the
        coin or standard of another, as the value of the pound
        sterling in the currency of France or the United States.
        The par of exchange rarely varies, and serves as a measure
        for the rise and fall of exchange that is affected by the
        demand and supply. Exchange is at par when, for example, a
        bill in New York, for the payment of one hundred pounds
        sterling in London, can be purchased for the sum. Exchange
        is in favor of a place when it can be purchased there at
        or above par.
  
     Telephone exchange, a central office in which the wires of
        any two telephones or telephone stations may be connected
        to permit conversation.
  
     Syn: Barter; dealing; trade; traffic; interchange.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Exchange \Ex*change"\, v. i.
     To be changed or received in exchange for; to pass in
     exchange; as, dollar exchanges for ten dimes.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Exchange \Ex*change"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exchanged; p. pr. &
     vb. n. Exchanging.] [Cf.OF. eschangier, F. ['e]changer. See
     Exchange, n.]
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Exchange his sheep for shells, or wool for a
              sparking pebble or a diamond.         --Locke.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To part with for a substitute; to lay aside, quit, or
        resign (something being received in place of the thing
        parted with); as, to exchange a palace for cell.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              And death for life exchanged foolishly. --Spenser.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              To shift his being
              Is to exchange one misery with another. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. --Shak.
  
     Syn: To barter; change; commute; interchange; bargain; truck;
          swap; traffic.
          [1913 Webster]


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