change

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the action of changing something

   the change of government had no impact on the economy

2. 2
   noun

   a different or fresh set of clothes

   The lawyer brought a change in their overnight bag.

3. 3
   noun

   a thing that is different

   The owner inspected several changes before selecting one.

4. 4
   noun

   an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another

   the change was intended to increase sales

5. 5
   noun

   the result of alteration or modification

   there were marked changes in the lining of the lungs

6. 6
   noun

   money received in return for its equivalent in a larger denomination or a different currency

   They got change for a twenty and used it to pay the taxi driver.

7. 7
   noun

   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

8. 8
   noun

   coins of small denomination regarded collectively

   They had a pocketful of change and nothing in their wallet.

Etymology

From Middle English changen, chaungen, from Old French changier, from Late Latin cambiāre, from Latin cambīre (“to exchange, barter”), derived from the noun cambium (“change”) (whence was loaned the English doublet cambium), from Gaulish cambion, earlier *kambyom (“change”), related to Proto-Celtic *kambos (“twisted, crooked”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱh₂(e)mbos, *(s)kh₂(e)mbos (“crooked”). More at skimp, scam; see also Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em-. Cognate with Italian cambiare, Portuguese cambiar, Romanian schimba, Sicilian canciari, Spanish cambiar. Used in English since the 13…