change

verb

1》 make or become different.

    ↘(of the moon) arrive at a fresh phase; become new.

2》 take or use another instead of: she decided to change her name.

    ↘move from one to (another).

    ↘(change over) move from one system or situation to another.

    ↘remove (something dirty or faulty) and replace it with another of the same kind.

    ↘engage (a different gear) in a motor vehicle.

    ↘(change down or up) Brit. engage a lower (or higher) gear in a vehicle or on a bicycle.

3》 put different clothes on.

4》 exchange (a sum of money) for the same sum in a different currency or denomination.

noun

1》 the action of changing.

    ↘an instance of becoming different.

    ↘(the change or the change of life) informal the menopause.

2》 a clean garment or garments as a replacement for something one is wearing.

3》 coins as opposed to banknotes.

    ↘money given in exchange for the same sum in larger units.

    ↘money returned to someone as the balance of the sum paid.

4》 an order in which a peal of bells can be rung.

Phrases

change colour blanch or flush.

change hands (of a business or building) pass to a different owner.

↘(of money or a marketable commodity) pass to another person in the course of a business transaction.

a change of air a different climate, typically as a means of improving one's health.

change step alter one's step so that the opposite leg is the one that marks time when marching.

change one's tune express a very different opinion or behave in a very different way.

for a change contrary to how things usually happen or in order to introduce variety.

get no change out of Brit. informal fail to get information or a desired reaction from.

ring the changes vary the ways of doing something. [with allusion to the different orders in which a peal of bells may be rung.]

Derivatives

changeful adjective

changeless adjective

changelessly adverb

changelessness noun

changer noun

Origin

ME: from OFr. change (n.), changer (v.), from late L. cambiare, from L. cambire 'barter'.