swap

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To exchange or give (something) in an non-normal exchange (for something else).
2. (obsolete, transitive) To hit, to strike.
3. (obsolete, transitive) To beat the air, or ply the wings, with a sweeping motion or noise; to flap.
4. (intransitive, obsolete) 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. (informal, uncountable) 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

A blow; a stroke.

Synonyms

exchange

trade

barter

interchange

switch

swop

change

substitute

replace

transfer

truck

🚚

conversion

convert

share

permute

quid pro quo

reciprocity

replacement

replacing

sell

shift

shifting

shop

shunt

substitution

swapping

switching

switch over

take

tit for tat

trade-off

transact

transaction

transition

change places

change sides

make a trade

supersession

barter with

something exchanged

change-out

make different

trade with one another

alter

bargain trafing

bandy

bargain

barter away

changing

commutate

Translations

échanger

tauschen

ruilen

wisselen

austauschen

intercambio

barattare

wechseln

scambiare

Tausch

troc

scambio

troquer

échange financier

inruilen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/swɒp/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: swappen

Inherited from Old English: *swappian

Inherited from Old English: swāpan

Cognate with German: schwappen

In summary

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.