exchanges
exchanges — noun
1. a situation where two people or groups each hand over something — like gifts, id
a situation where two people or groups each hand over something — like gifts, ideas, money, or goods — and receive something else in return.
Amira and her pen pal in Brazil began a long exchange of letters.
noun phrase: exchange of [things passed between two parties]
After the meeting, Haruto had a quick exchange of business cards with the visiting clients.
collocation: exchange of business cards
Marco offered his old bike to Nora in exchange for help with her math homework.
The two leaders signed a treaty after months of careful exchanges between their teams.
- trade
more informal; often suggests goods rather than ideas or favours
- swap
casual register; usually small personal items
- interchange
more formal; often used of ideas or information
文法句型
exchange of [noun]
in exchange for [noun]
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'in exchange for', which marks what is given back. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense covers any reciprocal giving, while sense 2 is specifically a brief conversation.
常見錯誤
2. a short spoken conversation, often a heated or sharp one, where two people answe
a short spoken conversation, often a heated or sharp one, where two people answer each other back and forth.
Tanvi overheard a tense exchange between two neighbours about a noisy dog.
collocation: a tense / heated / angry exchange
The debate ended with a brief exchange about funding for the new library.
noun phrase: an exchange about [topic]
After a few sharp exchanges, Élise walked out of the meeting room.
Reporters captured the angry exchanges between the coach and the referee.
文法句型
a [heated/angry/brief] exchange
an exchange between [people]
用法筆記
Often plural ('exchanges') when describing an ongoing argument. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is words spoken, not goods or favours traded.
3. a planned program where students, teachers, or artists from one country live and
a planned program where students, teachers, or artists from one country live and study in another country for a short time, while someone from that country visits theirs.
Sirin spent six months on an exchange in Seoul during her second year of university.
fixed phrase: on an exchange
The school runs an annual exchange with a partner school in Hamburg.
collocation: run an exchange with [partner]
Asher hosted a French exchange student named Camila for three weeks last summer.
Many art schools now organise exchanges between students and working painters.
- study abroad
broader; covers any overseas study, not just two-way arrangements
文法句型
on an exchange
exchange student
exchange program
用法筆記
Commonly used as a modifier: 'exchange student', 'exchange program', 'exchange visitor'. Subject is usually an educational or cultural body.
4. a place, often a building or online platform, where people buy and sell company
a place, often a building or online platform, where people buy and sell company shares or other financial products in an organised way.
Ziad bought his first shares through the Tokyo Stock Exchange last month.
proper noun: [City] Stock Exchange
The young company plans to list on the New York Exchange by next spring.
collocation: list on an exchange
Several exchanges around the world closed early after the surprise news.
Nicholas works as a trader on one of London's largest exchanges.
- stock market
broader; refers to the whole trading system, not a single venue
- bourse
formal; mostly used of European trading floors
文法句型
the [city] Stock Exchange
list on an exchange
用法筆記
Often appears in proper names like 'New York Stock Exchange' (NYSE) or simply 'the Exchange'. Object of verbs like 'list on', 'trade on', 'close'.
5. the act of changing money from one country's currency into another's, or the rat
the act of changing money from one country's currency into another's, or the rate at which one currency is changed for another.
Christopher checked the day's exchange before swapping his dollars for euros.
noun: the day's exchange [rate]
The current rate of exchange between the yen and the pound has dropped sharply.
fixed phrase: rate of exchange
Brandon works in a foreign exchange office near the central train station.
Banks usually charge a small fee for currency exchange.
- conversion
neutral term for changing one currency into another
文法句型
exchange rate
foreign exchange
用法筆記
Usually uncountable in this sense. Frequently appears in compounds: 'exchange rate', 'foreign exchange', 'currency exchange'. Distinguish from sense 4: here the focus is money conversion, not a trading venue.
exchanges — verb
1. to hand over an item, a few words, a look, or a favour and at the same moment ge
to hand over an item, a few words, a look, or a favour and at the same moment get a different one back from the other person.
Eli and his cousin exchanged Christmas presents under the tree on Christmas Eve.
transitive: exchange [presents] (mutual)
The two players exchanged shirts on the pitch after the final whistle.
reciprocal: exchange [shirts] after a match
Tanvi exchanged worried glances with Marco when the lights went out suddenly.
Visitors are asked to exchange a small gift with their host family on arrival.
文法句型
exchange [thing] with [person]
exchange [thing] for [thing]
exchange [things] (reciprocal)
用法筆記
Subject is usually plural or paired ('they exchanged…', 'X and Y exchanged…'). Object is often something said or shared briefly: glances, words, greetings, gifts.
常見錯誤
2. to take an item back to the shop where you bought it and swap it for another ite
to take an item back to the shop where you bought it and swap it for another item, usually because the first one was the wrong size, broken, or unwanted.
Nora wanted to exchange the blue sweater for a smaller size at the mall.
pattern: exchange [item] for [different version]
Most shops will exchange a faulty product if you bring the receipt.
conditional: exchange [item] if [condition]
Asher exchanged the broken headphones for a working pair the next morning.
Camila ran back to the bookstore to exchange a book that had missing pages.
文法句型
exchange [item] for [item]
exchange [item] (at a shop)
用法筆記
Object is usually something already bought; often paired with 'for' plus the replacement item. Subject is the customer; the shop or staff is implied.