Link Centre Dictionary

swap

UK/ˈswɒp/ US/ˈswɑp/ fairly common informal uk
verb (2) noun (1)

verb

1.

exchange or give (something) in exchange for

Synonyms
2.

move (a piece of a program) into memory, in computer science

noun

1.

an equal exchange

  • “we had no money so we had to live by barter”
Synonyms

Origin

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.

Phrases

  • blue chip swap
  • cookie swap
  • cum swap
  • face swap
  • formal swap
  • full swap
  • hard swap
  • hot swap
  • swap horses in midstream
  • swap over
  • swap places
  • swap spit

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.