English Explanatory Dictionary

swap

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To exchange or give (something) in an non-normal exchange (for something else).
  2. To hit, to strike.
  3. To beat the air, or ply the wings, with a sweeping motion or noise; to flap.
  4. To descend or fall; to rush hastily or violently.
noun
  1. An exchange of two comparable things.
  2. A financial derivative in which two parties agree to exchange one stream of non-normal cashflow against another stream.
  3. Space available in a swap file for use as auxiliary memory.
  4. A social meal at a restaurant between two university societies, usually involving drinking and banter; commonly associated with fining and pennying; equivalent to a crewdate at Oxford University.
noun
  1. A blow; a stroke.

Pronunciation

swŏp LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-swap.wav en-us-swap.ogg /sʋap/

Word forms

swap swaps swapping swapped swop

Etymology

From Middle English swappen (“to swap”), originally meaning "to hurl" or "to strike", the word alludes to striking hands together when making an exchange; probably from Old English *swappian, a secondary form of Old English swāpan (“to swoop”). Cognate with German schwappen (“to slosh, slop”). Compare also Middle English swippen (“to strike, hit”), from Old English swipian (“to scourge, strike, beat, lash”), Old Norse svipa (“to swoop, flash, whip, look after, look around”). More at swipe.

Synonyms

switch knock tap speed zoom exchange trade interchange bang flap fly barter quid pro quo

Derived words

face-swap outswap swap horses in midstream swap over swappable swapper swap places swap spit toswap unswapped blue chip swap bodyswap bookswap cookie swap cum swap cumswap face swap formal swap full swap genderswap hard swap hot swap interest rate swap K-swap language swap LS-swap mindswap mixed swap palette swap prisoner swap SIM swap soft swap swap body swapbody swap box swap chain swap file swaplet swap line swapling swaplist swap meet swapmeet swaporama swap partition swappiness swapportunity swap shop swapsies swap space swaption tax swap Tesla-swap Yankee swap
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