swap

especially British, swop

[swop]

verb (used with object)

swapped, swapping 

1. to exchange, barter, or trade, as one thing for another.

   He swapped his wrist watch for the radio.

2. to substitute (one thing) for another (sometimes followed byin ).

   Swap in red wine for white, since powerful nutrients are in the red grape's skin.

3. to replace (one thing) with another (sometimes followed byout ).

   To cut down on fat, swap cream for milk.

verb (used without object)

swapped, swapping 

1. to make an exchange.

noun

1. an exchange.

   He got the radio in a swap.

swap

/ swɒp /

verb

1. to trade or exchange (something or someone) for another

noun

1. an exchange

2. something that is exchanged

3. Also called: swap option.  swaption. finance a contract in which the parties to it exchange liabilities on outstanding debts, often exchanging fixed interest-rate for floating-rate debts ( debt swap ), either as a means of managing debt or in trading ( swap trading )

Other Word Forms

• swapper noun
• unswapped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swap¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English swappen “to strike, strike hands (in bargaining)”; cognate with dialectal German schwappen “to clap, box (the ears)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of swap¹

C14 (in the sense: to shake hands on a bargain, strike): probably of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Another recent swap is Weetabix, which mimics the dry, crunchy texture Junior favours.

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“Once I swapped all of that out, my acne was gone,” she said.

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They swapped rooms but the stay was - sadly - uneventful in paranormal terms.

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Consider a rental with a backyard, so you’re essentially swapping houses and not touching your investments.

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He agrees the actor swap is "definitely a bit weird" but tells Newsbeat the transition is handled well by the show's cast and crew.

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Related Words

• substitute 
• switch 
• trade