EXCHANGE


Meaning of EXCHANGE in English

/ ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ; NAmE / noun , verb

■ noun

GIVING AND RECEIVING

1.

[ C , U ] an act of giving sth to sb or doing sth for sb and receiving sth in return :

The exchange of prisoners took place this morning.

We need to promote an open exchange of ideas and information.

an exchange of glances / insults

an exchange of fire (= between enemy soldiers)

I buy you lunch and you fix my computer. Is that a fair exchange ?

Would you like my old TV in exchange for this camera?

I'll type your report if you'll babysit in exchange .

—see also part exchange

CONVERSATION / ARGUMENT

2.

[ C ] a conversation or an argument :

There was only time for a brief exchange.

The Prime Minister was involved in a heated exchange with opposition MPs.

OF MONEY

3.

[ U ] the process of changing an amount of one currency (= the money used in one country) for an equal value of another :

currency exchange facilities

Where can I find the best exchange rate / rate of exchange ?

—see also foreign exchange

BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES

4.

[ C ] an arrangement when two people or groups from different countries visit each other's homes or do each other's jobs for a short time :

Our school does an exchange with a school in France.

Nick went on the French exchange.

trade and cultural exchanges with China

BUILDING

5.

(often Exchange ) [ C ] (in compounds) a building where business people met in the past to buy and sell a particular type of goods :

the old Corn Exchange

—see also stock exchange

TELEPHONE

6.

[ C ] = telephone exchange

■ verb

[ vn ]

GIVE AND RECEIVE

1.

exchange sth (with sb) to give sth to sb and at the same time receive the same type of thing from them :

to exchange ideas / news / information

Juliet and David exchanged glances (= they looked at each other) .

I shook hands and exchanged a few words with the manager.

The two men exchanged blows (= hit each other) .

Everyone in the group exchanged email addresses.

MONEY / GOODS

2.

exchange A for B to give or return sth that you have and get sth different or better instead

SYN change :

You can exchange your currency for dollars in the hotel.

If it doesn't fit, take it back and the store will exchange it.

CONTRACTS

3.

exchange contracts ( especially BrE ) to sign a contract with the person that you are buying sth from, especially a house or land

IDIOMS

see word noun

••

WORD ORIGIN

late Middle English : from Old French eschange (noun), eschangier (verb), based on changer , from late Latin cambiare , from Latin cambire barter. The spelling was influenced by Latin ex- out, utterly (see ex- ).

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.