exchange

I UK [ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ] / US noun
Word forms "exchange":
singular exchange plural exchanges
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1) [countable] a situation in which one person gives another person something and receives something else of a similar type or value in return

exchange of:

The two sides agreed an exchange of prisoners of war.

a) a situation in which people give each other information or discuss their ideas and opinions

exchange of:

We had a frank exchange of views.

There was an angry exchange of letters between the two firms.

b) a situation in which someone shoots at another person and the other person shoots back

an exchange of fire/gunfire/shots:

There was an exchange of fire and three soldiers fell dead.

2) [countable] formal an angry conversation

heated exchange:

Paul and Mark were having a heated exchange in the office.

3) [uncountable] the act of changing the money of one country to the money of another country

the abolition of exchange controls

See:

foreign exchange

4) [countable] an arrangement in which people or groups from different countries visit each other or do each other's jobs, for example in order to study another country's language or improve relationships

I met Laurence on a French exchange.

5)

a) [countable] a central place where goods of a particular type are bought and sold

the former corn exchange

b) a central place where telephone calls are received and connected to other lines

See:

telephone exchange

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See:

stock exchange

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- in exchange

II UK [ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "exchange":
present tense I/you/we/they exchange he/she/it exchanges present participle exchanging past tense exchanged past participle exchanged
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1) to give someone something in return for something that they give you

We exchanged addresses and promised to write to one another.

exchange something for something:

The tokens can be exchanged for goods in any of our shops.

2) if a shop exchanges something that you bought there, it allows you to change it for something of a similar type or value, for example because it is damaged

3) to change money from the money of one country to the money of another country

4) to say something to someone and then listen to what they say

We all exchanged greetings.

exchange ideas/views/information:

Team meetings are an opportunity to exchange ideas.

exchange words:

They exchanged a few words in what sounded like Spanish.

a) to look at someone who is looking at you

They exchanged some puzzled glances.

I shook hands and exchanged smiles with Mr Wren.

b) to do something to someone who is doing the same thing to you

They sat on the bench together, sometimes exchanging kisses.

exchange blows/punches (= fight):

Blows were exchanged before the two could be pulled apart.

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- exchange contracts