change
noun
- process of becoming different
- money received in exchanges with higher sums of money
- inferior coins, the purchasing power of which is higher than the value of the metal it contains
verb
- (intransitive) To become something different
- (transitive, ergative) To make something into something else
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒ/ / [ˈt͡ʃʰeɪ̯nd͡ʒ] / /ˈt͡ʃɛjnd͡ʒ/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English changen, chaungen, from Old French changier, from Late Latin cambiāre, from Latin cambīre (“to exchange, barter”), derived from the noun cambium (“change”) (whence was loaned the English doublet cambium), from Gaulish cambion, earlier *kambyom (“change”), related to Proto-Celtic *kambos (“twisted, crooked”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱh₂(e)mbos, *(s)kh₂(e)mbos (“crooked”). More at skimp, scam; see also Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em-. Cognate with Italian cambiare, Portuguese cambiar, Romanian schimba, Sicilian canciari, Spanish cambiar. Used in English since the 13th century. Displaced Middle English wenden, from wendan (“to turn, change”) (whence wend). The noun is from Middle English change, chaunge, from Old French change, from the verb changier. See also exchange. Possibly related from the same source is Old English gombe.
- The process or result of becoming different.
“The product is undergoing a change in order to improve it.”
“Such much-needed changes to the exam format might have a serious effect on candidates' performance.”
- Small denominations of money given in exchange for a larger denomination.
“Can I get change for this $100 bill, please?”
- A replacement.
“a change of clothes”
“After beating champions Chelsea 3-1 on Boxing Day, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made eight changes to his starting XI in an effort to freshen things up, with games against Birmingham and Manchester City to come in the next seven days.”
- A replacement.
“The baby needs a change”
- Balance of money returned from the sum paid after deducting the price of a purchase.
“A customer who pays with a 10-pound note for a £9 item receives one pound in change.”
- An amount of cash, usually in the form of coins, but sometimes inclusive of paper money.
“Do you have any change on you? I need to make a phone call.”
“This bus ride requires exact change.”
- A transfer between vehicles.
“The train journey from Bristol to Nottingham includes a change at Birmingham.”
“It [the Elizabeth Line] will provide a 6tph (trains per hour) service and with a single change at Hayes & Harlington offer services towards Reading.”
- A change-up pitch.
- Any order in which a number of bells are struck, other than that of the diatonic scale.
“Four bells admit twenty-four changes in ringing.”
- A public house; an alehouse.
“1727-1728, Edward Burt, Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland to his Friend in London They call an alehouse a change.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English changen, chaungen, from Old French changier, from Late Latin cambiāre, from Latin cambīre (“to exchange, barter”), derived from the noun cambium (“change”) (whence was loaned the English doublet cambium), from Gaulish cambion, earlier *kambyom (“change”), related to Proto-Celtic *kambos (“twisted, crooked”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱh₂(e)mbos, *(s)kh₂(e)mbos (“crooked”). More at skimp, scam; see also Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em-. Cognate with Italian cambiare, Portuguese cambiar, Romanian schimba, Sicilian canciari, Spanish cambiar. Used in English since the 13th century. Displaced Middle English wenden, from wendan (“to turn, change”) (whence wend). The noun is from Middle English change, chaunge, from Old French change, from the verb changier. See also exchange. Possibly related from the same source is Old English gombe.
- To become something different.
“The tadpole changed into a frog.”
“Stock prices are constantly changing.”
- To make something into something else.
“Lo I the man, whoſe Muſe whilome did maske, As time her taught in lowly Shepheards weeds, Am now enforſt a far unfitter taske, For trumpets ſterne to chaunge mine oaten reeds, And ſinge of Knights and Ladies gentle deeds[…]”
“KORRIS: They shunned you. Cursed you. Called you vile names, and you knew not why. Even now do you know why you are driven? Why you cannot relent—or repent—or confess—or abstain? How could you know? There have been no other Klingons to lead you to that knowledge. WORF: Yes—yes—those feelings are still a part of me, but I control them. They do not rule me. KORRIS: Yes, to fit in, the humans demand you change the one thing that you cannot change. But because you cannot—you do. That too is the mark of the warrior.”
- To replace.
“Ask the janitor to come and change the lightbulb.”
“After a brisk walk, I washed up and changed my shirt.”
- To replace one's clothing.
“You can't go into the dressing room while she’s changing.”
“The clowns changed into their costumes before the circus started.”
- To replace the clothing of (the one wearing it), especially to put a clean diaper on (someone).
“It’s your turn to change the baby.”
- To transfer to another vehicle (train, bus, etc.)
“After stopping at these stations, my train has become busy. Returning day-trippers make up a goodly number, along with young people heading for a night out in Bristol, which is where I change once again.”
- To exchange.
“At the first sight / they have changed eyes. (exchanged looks)”
“I would give any thing to change a word or two with this person.”
- To change hand while riding (a horse).
“to change a horse”