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interchange

[verb in-ter-cheynj; noun in-ter-cheynj]
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verb (used with object), in·ter·changed, in·ter·chang·ing.
  1. to put each in the place of the other: to interchange pieces of modular furniture.
  2. to cause (one thing) to change places with another; transpose.
  3. to give and receive (things) reciprocally; exchange: The twins interchanged clothes frequently.
  4. to cause to follow one another alternately; alternate: to interchange business cares with pleasures.
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verb (used without object), in·ter·changed, in·ter·chang·ing.
  1. to occur by turns or in succession; alternate.
  2. to change places, as two persons or things, or as one with another.
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noun
  1. an act or instance of interchanging; reciprocal exchange: the interchange of commodities.
  2. a changing of places, as between two persons or things, or of one with another.
  3. alternation; alternate succession.
  4. a highway intersection consisting of a system of several different road levels arranged so that vehicles may move from one road to another without crossing the streams of traffic.
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Origin of interchange

1325–75; inter- + change; replacing Middle English entrechaungen < Middle French entrechangier
Related formsin·ter·chang·er, nounpre·in·ter·change, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

intersectionjunctiongive-and-takenetworkingbartershiftalternationvariationtradereciprocationvaryingchangemeshalteringcrossfiretranspositioncommuteconvertbandyreverse

Examples from the Web for interchange

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Great was the interchange of news over the homely hearty meal.

    The Armourer's Prentices

    Charlotte M. Yonge

  • "You see, by the interchange your positions were reversed," continued the lawyer.

    A Son of Hagar

    Sir Hall Caine

  • Delcassé had listened to this interchange with smiling lips.

    The Destroyer

    Burton Egbert Stevenson

  • Finally the interchange was ended, and Ran-los bowed himself out.

  • This interchange of compliments was interrupted by the announcement of supper.

    David Dunne

    Belle Kanaris Maniates

British Dictionary definitions for interchange

interchange

verb (ˌɪntəˈtʃeɪndʒ)
  1. to change places or cause to change places; alternate; exchange; switch
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noun (ˈɪntəˌtʃeɪndʒ)
  1. the act of interchanging; exchange or alternation
  2. a motorway junction of interconnecting roads and bridges designed to prevent streams of traffic crossing one another
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Derived Formsinterchangeable, adjectiveinterchangeability or interchangeableness, nouninterchangeably, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for interchange

v.

late 14c., from Old French entrechangier, from entre- (see inter-) + changier "to change" (see change (v.)). Related: Interchanged; interchanging.

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n.

1540s, "act of exchange, from Old French entrechange, from entrechangier (see interchange (v.)). In reference to a type of road junction, 1944.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper