Definition of SWAP

swap

Plural: swaps

Noun

  • an equal exchange
  • An exchange of two comparable things.
  • A financial derivative in which two parties agree to exchange one stream of non-normal cashflow against another stream.
  • Space available in a swap file for use as auxiliary memory.
  • 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.
  • A blow; a stroke.

Verb

Verb Forms: swapped, swapping, swaps

  • To exchange one thing for another.
  • exchange or give (something) in exchange for
  • move (a piece of a program) into memory, in computer science
  • To exchange or give (something) in an non-normal exchange (for something else).
  • To hit, to strike.
  • To beat the air, or ply the wings, with a sweeping motion or noise; to flap.
  • To descend or fall; to rush hastily or violently.

Examples

  • How much swap do you need?
  • Sometimes it’s better to SWAP your tiles than to play a low-scoring word in Scrabble.

Origin / 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

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

Scrabble Score: 9

swap: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
swap: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
swap: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

swap: valid Words With Friends Word