I. kəˈmyüt, usu -üd.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin commutare to change, exchange, from com- + mutare to change — more at mutable
transitive verb
1.
a. : to place or give (a thing) in exchange for another : exchange , substitute , interchange
commuting foreign money to domestic
commuting comfort for hardship
b. : change , alter
commuting a base metal into gold
2. : to convert (as a particular obligation, assessment, charge, or payment) into another often more convenient form : substitute one form of obligation or charge for (another)
the tithe … was commuted to a rental to be paid in cash — K.S.Latourette
commute the small debts into a lump sum due one person
commute fringe benefits into cash
3. : to exchange (a penalty) for another ; usually : to revoke (a sentence) and impose something less severe
commute the death sentence for a long prison term
4. : commutate
commuting an electric current
intransitive verb
1. : to make up for something : serve as substitute for something : compensate
commuting for her sins
commuting with payments in place of labor
2. : to pay or arrange to pay in gross instead of part by part : effect commutation of tithes or annuities
3. : to travel by use of a commutation ticket especially daily to and from a city and one's suburban residence : travel back and forth regularly or frequently
commuting between London and New York
II. intransitive verb
: to yield the same result regardless of order — used of two mathematical elements undergoing an operation or of two operations on elements
III. kəˈmyüt noun
( -s )
Etymology: commute , verb
1. : an act or instance of commuting
his usual morning commute to work — Newsweek
2. : the distance covered in commuting
about an hour's commute from the university — College Composition & Communication