EXCHANGE

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does exchange mean? 

• EXCHANGE (noun)
  The noun EXCHANGE has 11 senses:

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)
3. the act of changing one thing for another thing
4. the act of giving something in return for something received
5. a workplace that serves as a telecommunications facility where lines from telephones can be connected together to permit communication
6. a workplace for buying and selling; open only to members
7. (sports) an unbroken sequence of several successive strokes
8. reciprocal transfer of equivalent sums of money especially the currencies of different countries
9. the act of putting one thing or person in the place of another:
10. (chess) gaining (or losing) a rook in return for a knight or bishop
11. (chess) the capture by both players (usually on consecutive moves) of pieces of equal value

  Familiarity information: EXCHANGE used as a noun is familiar.

• EXCHANGE (verb)
  The verb EXCHANGE has 5 senses:

1. give to, and receive from, one another
2. exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category
3. change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
4. hand over one and receive another, approximately equivalent
5. exchange a penalty for a less severe one

  Familiarity information: EXCHANGE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXCHANGE (noun)

Sense 1

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Hypernyms ("exchange" is a kind of...):

chemical phenomenon (any natural phenomenon involving chemistry (as changes to atoms or molecules))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exchange"):

photochemical exchange (an exchange produced by the chemical action of radiant energy (especially light))

Sense 2

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A mutual expression of views (especially an unpleasant one)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

they had a bitter exchange

Hypernyms ("exchange" is a kind of...):

conversation (the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.)

Sense 3

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The act of changing one thing for another thing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context examples:

Adam was promised immortality in exchange for his disobedience / there was an exchange of prisoners

Hypernyms ("exchange" is a kind of...):

group action (action taken by a group of people)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exchange"):

trade-off; tradeoff (an exchange that occurs as a compromise)

Sense 4

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The act of giving something in return for something received

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

deductible losses on sales or exchanges of property are allowable

Hypernyms ("exchange" is a kind of...):

dealing; dealings; transaction (the act of transacting within or between groups (as carrying on commercial activities))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exchange"):

logrolling (act of exchanging favors for mutual gain; especially trading of influence or votes among legislators to gain passage of certain projects)

Sense 5

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A workplace that serves as a telecommunications facility where lines from telephones can be connected together to permit communication

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

central; telephone exchange; exchange

Hypernyms ("exchange" is a kind of...):

work; workplace (a place where work is done)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exchange"):

patchboard; plugboard; switchboard (telephone central where circuits are completed with patchcords)

centrex ((CENTRal EXchange) a kind of telephone exchange)

Holonyms ("exchange" is a part of...):

phone system; telephone system (a communication system that transmits sound between distant points)

Sense 6

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A workplace for buying and selling; open only to members

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("exchange" is a kind of...):

work; workplace (a place where work is done)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exchange"):

commodities exchange; commodities market; commodity exchange (an exchange for buying and selling commodities for future delivery)

corn exchange (an exchange where grains are bought and sold)

securities market; stock exchange; stock market (an exchange where security trading is conducted by professional stockbrokers)

Sense 7

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

(sports) an unbroken sequence of several successive strokes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

rally; exchange

Context example:

after a short rally Connors won the point

Hypernyms ("exchange" is a kind of...):

group action (action taken by a group of people)

Domain category:

Ping-Pong; table tennis (a game (trademark Ping-Pong) resembling tennis but played on a table with paddles and a light hollow ball)

lawn tennis; tennis (a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court)

badminton (a game played on a court with light long-handled rackets used to volley a shuttlecock over a net)

squash; squash rackets; squash racquets (a game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets)

Sense 8

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Reciprocal transfer of equivalent sums of money especially the currencies of different countries

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

interchange; exchange

Context example:

he earns his living from the interchange of currency

Hypernyms ("exchange" is a kind of...):

commerce; commercialism; mercantilism (transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exchange"):

conversion (act of exchanging one type of money or security for another)

barter; swap; swop; trade (an equal exchange)

foreign exchange (the system by which one currency is exchanged for another; enables international transactions to take place)

Sense 9

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The act of putting one thing or person in the place of another:

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

substitution; commutation; exchange

Context example:

he sent Smith in for Jones but the substitution came too late to help

Hypernyms ("exchange" is a kind of...):

change (the action of changing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exchange"):

replacement; replacing (the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another)

subrogation ((law) the act of substituting of one creditor for another)

ablactation; weaning (the act of substituting other food for the mother's milk in the diet of a child or young mammal)

Sense 10

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

(chess) gaining (or losing) a rook in return for a knight or bishop

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

black lost the exchange

Hypernyms ("exchange" is a kind of...):

capture (the removal of an opponent's piece from the chess board)

Domain category:

chess; chess game (a board game for two players who move their 16 pieces according to specific rules; the object is to checkmate the opponent's king)

Sense 11

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

(chess) the capture by both players (usually on consecutive moves) of pieces of equal value

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the endgame began after the exchange of queens

Hypernyms ("exchange" is a kind of...):

capture (the removal of an opponent's piece from the chess board)

Domain category:

chess; chess game (a board game for two players who move their 16 pieces according to specific rules; the object is to checkmate the opponent's king)

• EXCHANGE (verb)

Sense 1

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Give to, and receive from, one another

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

exchange; interchange; change

Context examples:

Would you change places with me? / We have been exchanging letters for a year

Hypernyms (to "exchange" is one way to...):

transfer (cause to change ownership)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "exchange"):

trade; trade in (turn in as payment or part payment for a purchase)

barter (exchange goods without involving money)

swap; switch; swop; trade (exchange or give (something) in exchange for)

fill in; stand in; sub; substitute (be a substitute)

replace; substitute (put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items)

redeem (to turn in (vouchers or coupons) and receive something in exchange)

ransom; redeem (exchange or buy back for money; under threat)

cash; cash in (exchange for cash)

sell (exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence example:

They exchange the goods

Sense 2

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

exchange; convert; commute; change

Context examples:

Could you convert my dollars into pounds? / He changed his name / convert centimeters into inches / convert holdings into shares

Hypernyms (to "exchange" is one way to...):

replace (substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "exchange"):

break (exchange for smaller units of money)

launder (convert illegally obtained funds into legal ones)

capitalise; capitalize (convert (a company's reserve funds) into capital)

utilize (convert (from an investment trust to a unit trust))

rectify (convert into direct current)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

switch; switch over; exchange

Hypernyms (to "exchange" is one way to...):

change by reversal; reverse; turn (change to the contrary)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 4

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Hand over one and receive another, approximately equivalent

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context examples:

exchange prisoners / exchange employees between branches of the company

Hypernyms (to "exchange" is one way to...):

reassign; transfer (transfer somebody to a different position or location of work)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "exchange"):

alternate (exchange people temporarily to fulfill certain jobs and functions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 5

exchange [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Exchange a penalty for a less severe one

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

commute; exchange; convert

Hypernyms (to "exchange" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something