I. iks-ˈchānj, ˈeks-ˌ noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English exchaunge, from Anglo-French eschange, from eschanger to exchange, from Vulgar Latin * excambiare, from Latin ex- + cambiare to exchange — more at change
Date: 14th century
1. : the act of giving or taking one thing in return for another : trade
an exchange of prisoners
2.
a. : the act or process of substituting one thing for another
b. : reciprocal giving and receiving
3. : something offered, given, or received in an exchange
4.
a. : funds payable currently at a distant point either in a foreign currency or in domestic currency
b.
(1) : interchange or conversion of the money of two countries or of current and uncurrent money with allowance for difference in value
(2) : exchange rate
(3) : the amount of the difference in value between two currencies or between values of a particular currency at two places
c. : instruments (as checks or bills of exchange) presented in a clearinghouse for settlement
5. : a place where things or services are exchanged: as
a. : an organized market or center for trading in securities or commodities
b. : a store or shop specializing in merchandise usually of a particular type
c. : a cooperative store or society
d. : a central office in which telephone lines are connected to permit communication
•
- in exchange
II. verb
( ex·changed ; ex·chang·ing )
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to part with, give, or transfer in consideration of something received as an equivalent
b. : to have replaced by other merchandise
exchanged the shirt for one in a larger size
2. : to part with for a substitute
exchanging future security for immediate pleasure
3. : to give and receive reciprocally
exchange gifts
intransitive verb
1. : to pass or become received in exchange
2. : to engage in an exchange
• ex·change·abil·i·ty iks-ˌchān-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun
• ex·change·able iks-ˈchān-jə-bəl adjective
• ex·chang·er iks-ˈchān-jər, eks-ˌ noun