AskDefine | Define change

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Dictionary Definition

change

Noun

1 an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago" [syn: alteration, modification]
2 a relational difference between states; especially between states before and after some event; "he attributed the change to their marriage"
3 the action of changing something; "the change of government had no impact on the economy"; "his change on abortion cost him the election"
4 the result of alteration or modification; "there were marked changes in the lining of the lungs"; "there had been no change in the mountains"
5 the balance of money received when the amount you tender is greater than the amount due; "I paid with a twenty and pocketed the change"
6 a thing that is different; "he inspected several changes before selecting one"
7 a different or fresh set of clothes; "she brought a change in her overnight bag"
8 coins of small denomination regarded collectively; "he had a pocketful of change"
9 money received in return for its equivalent in a larger denomination or a different currency; "he got change for a twenty and used it to pay the taxi driver"
10 a difference that is usually pleasant; "he goes to France for variety"; "it is a refreshing change to meet a woman mechanic" [syn: variety]

Verb

1 undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" [ant: stay]
2 cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" [syn: alter, modify]
3 make or become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence; "her mood changes in accordance with the weather"; "The supermarket's selection of vegetables varies according to the season" [syn: alter, vary]
4 lay aside, abandon, or leave for another; "switch to a different brand of beer"; "She switched psychiatrists"; "The car changed lanes" [syn: switch, shift]
5 change clothes; put on different clothes; "Change before you go to the opera"
6 exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category; "Could you convert my dollars into pounds?"; "He changed his name"; "convert centimeters into inches"; "convert holdings into shares" [syn: exchange, commute, convert]
7 give to, and receive from, one another; "Would you change places with me?"; "We have been exchanging letters for a year" [syn: exchange, interchange]
8 change from one vehicle or transportation line to another; "She changed in Chicago on her way to the East coast" [syn: transfer]
9 become deeper in tone; "His voice began to change when he was 12 years old"; "Her voice deepened when she whispered the password" [syn: deepen]
10 remove or replace the coverings of; "Father had to learn how to change the baby"; "After each guest we changed the bed linens"

User Contributed Dictionary

English

Pronunciation

Etymology

Via from , compare French changer, from cambire. Used in English since the 13th Century.

Noun

  1. the process of becoming different. (Countable)
  2. small denominations of money given in exchange for a larger denomination. (Uncountable)
    Can I get change for this $100 bill please?
  3. a replacement, e.g. a change of clothes (Countable)
  4. a change-up pitch
  5. money given back when a customer hands over more than the exact price of an item. For example, a customer who uses a 10-pound note to pay for a £9 item receives one pound in change.

Synonyms

See also

Translations

the process of becoming different
small denominations of money given in exchange for a larger denomination
a replacement
baseball: a change-up pitch
money given back

Verb

  1. To become something different.
    The tadpole changed into a frog.
    Stock prices are constantly changing.
  2. transitive ergative To make something into something different.
    The fairy changed the frog into a prince.
    I had to change the wording of the ad so it would fit.
  3. To replace.
    Ask the janitor to come and change the lightbulb.
    After a brisk walk, I washed up and changed my shirt.
  4. 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.

Synonyms

Related terms

Derived terms

Translations

to become something different
to make something into something different
to replace

French

Noun

change
  1. exchange

Verb

change
  1. first and third person singular indicative present of changer
  2. first and third person singular subjunctive present of changer
  3. second person singular imperative of changer

Related terms

Extensive Definition

Change can mean:

External links

change in German: Veränderung
change in Spanish: Cambio
change in Persian: تغییر
change in Korean: 변화
change in Indonesian: Manajemen Perubahan
change in Macedonian: Промена
change in Newari: चांजे
change in Japanese: 変化
change in Portuguese: Mudança
change in Sicilian: Canciu
change in Yiddish: טויש
change in Chinese: 变化

Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words

aberration, about-face, accommodate, adapt, adjust, advance, agency, agent, alchemy, alter, alteration, alternate, alternative, ameliorate, analogy, analysis, analyze, anatomization, anatomize, ascend, assimilate to, assimilation, assume, assumption, atomization, atomize, avatar, back, back and fill, back up, backup, bandy, barter, be changed, be converted into, be quits with, be renewed, become, becoming, better, bottom out, break, break up, bring to, budge, buy and sell, castrate, change for, change into, change over, change place, change-over, changeling, checker, chop, chop and change, chop logic, circle, climb, coins, come about, come around, come round, commutation, commute, comparison, compensate, compound for, conversion, convert, cooperate, copy, counterchange, counterfeit, deal, deform, degenerate, delegation, demarcation, denature, deputation, deputy, deputyship, descend, desexualize, desynonymization, desynonymize, deteriorate, deviate, deviation, difference, differencing, differentiate, differentiation, discriminate, discrimination, disequalization, disequalize, disjoin, disjunction, displacement, distinction, distinguish, distinguishment, dither, diverge, divergence, diversification, diversify, divide, division, do business, do over, don, double, dress in, dub in, dummy, ebb, equal, equivalent, equivocate, ersatz, exchange, fake, fill-in, fit, fix, flip-flop, flop, flow, fluctuate, geld, get back at, get even with, get into, get on, get over, ghost, ghostwriter, give and take, give in exchange, give place to, go, go around, go round, go sideways, growth, gyrate, hard cash, haul around, horse-trade, imitation, improve, individualization, individualize, individuate, individuation, innovation, interchange, inverse, invert, jibe, lapse, locum tenens, logroll, make, make a distinction, make do with, make over, make way for, makeshift, mark, mark off, mark out, meliorate, metamorphose, metamorphosis, metaphor, metonymy, mitigate, modification, modify, modulate, modulation, mount, move, move over, mutate, mutation, mutilate, naturalization, naturalize, neuter, next best thing, novelty, offer in exchange, oscillate, overthrow, particularization, particularize, passage, pay back, pendulate, permutation, permute, personalization, personalize, personnel, petty cash, phony, pin money, pinch hitter, plunge, pocket money, power of attorney, progress, proxy, put on, put up with, qualify, quid pro quo, re-create, re-formation, realign, rebuild, reciprocate, reconstruct, reconversion, reconvert, redeem, redesign, reduce to, reduction, refashion, refine a distinction, refit, reform, regress, relief, remake, render, renew, replace, replacement, representation, representative, requite, reserves, reshape, resolution, resolve into, respond, restructure, retaliate, retrogress, return, return the compliment, revamp, reversal, reverse, revert, revive, revolution, ring in, ring the changes, ringer, rise, rotate, run, second string, secondary, segregate, segregation, separate, separation, set apart, set off, sever, severalization, severalize, severance, shift, shift the scene, shift with, shilly-shally, shuffle the cards, sign, silver, sink, slip on, small change, soar, spares, specialization, specialize, spending money, spin, split hairs, sport, stand-in, stir, stream, sub, subrogation, subside, substituent, substitute, substitution, subvert, succedaneum, supersedence, superseder, superseding, supersedure, supersession, supplantation, supplanter, supplanting, supplantment, surrogate, swap, swap horses, swerve, switch, switch over, switch-over, symbol, synecdoche, tack, take a turn, take in exchange, teeter, tergiversate, third string, tit for tat, token, totter, trade, trade in, trade off, trade sight unseen, transfigure, transform, transformation, transit, transition, translate, transmogrify, transmutation, transmute, transplace, transpose, transubstantiate, travel, truck, turn, turn aside, turn back, turn into, turn the corner, turn the scale, turn the tables, turn the tide, turn upside down, turning into, undergo a change, understudy, unsex, utility player, vacillate, variation, variegate, variety, vary, veer, vicar, vicariousness, vice-president, vice-regent, vicissitude, volte-face, wane, warp, waver, whirl, wobble, work a change, worsen
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